How Sir Elton John has splurged millions over the years

How Sir Elton has spent millions over the years

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With an awe-inspiring career spanning almost six decades, it’s little surprise that British music legend Sir Elton John has a fabulous fortune at his fingertips. In fact, according to The Sunday Times Rich List 2024, the music icon has a net worth of around $599 million (£470m).

The super-rich star certainly isn't shy about splashing his hard-earned cash, and famously made headlines in 2000 when it was revealed that he'd blown his way through an eye-watering sum in just under two years, more on that later...

Read on to discover how Sir Elton amassed a staggering fortune and learn about the wild spending habits that saw him blow millions. 

All dollar amounts in US dollars

Epic record sales

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Fans have an insatiable appetite for the Rocket Man's music and he's sold over 300 million records worldwide, making him one of the bestselling artists of all time. It all started with the release of his debut album Empty Sky in 1969. Since then, he's released 31 studio albums and various other live records and compilations.

His 32nd studio album is reportedly complete and slated to drop in the coming weeks, though details about the "surprise" record are scarce. Unsurprisingly, album sales are the star's biggest money-maker, and it’s estimated he’s earned an impressive $325 million (£255m) from this juicy revenue stream.

Touring triumphs

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Live performances were another major money-spinner for the star, and he could reportedly earn upwards of $80 million (£63m) in a typical touring year. Sir Elton has toured relentlessly throughout the decades, playing around 4,600 shows in 80 countries worldwide.

However, the veteran performer announced his retirement from the road in 2017, following one final, epic hurrah. The Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour ran for five years between 2018 and 2023.

Billboard reports that six million tickets were sold, with the show grossing a record-breaking $939 million (£737m) worldwide.

Pricey performances

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Securing top-tier talent like Elton John isn't cheap, and he was able to command serious megabucks for his 2015 Las Vegas residency at Caesars Palace. He reportedly took home an 88% slice of the profits from The Million Dollar Piano show.

That's a handsome $500,000 per performance, or $671,000 (£527k) in today's money. As for his performance at the Glastonbury Festival last June (pictured), Sir Elton is reported to have earned $320,900 (£252k).

Blockbuster deals

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In 1992, Elton earned an incredible $39 million in a single day, the equivalent of $88.5 million (£69.4m) today. The mammoth payday came when John, along with his songwriter partner Bernie Taupin (pictured together), signed a contract with Warner/Chappell Music to sell their music publishing rights.

The lucrative deal included the largest cash advance in music publishing history at the time.

Enormous endorsement deals

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The shrewd star doesn't solely rely on music to make his megabucks and reportedly pulls in a minimum of $2.8 million (£2.2m) per year from endorsement deals. Sir Elton has boosted his bank balance by collaborating with various brands over the years, including Diet Coke, Yamaha and Uber Eats (pictured).

Now we've explored how Elton John makes his money, let's look at all the lavish ways he likes to spend it...

Hey big spender

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One thing's for sure: Sir Elton's not exactly modest with his millions. The exorbitant star once blew through an eye-watering £40 million over the 20 months between January 1996 and September 1997.

That's the equivalent of $96.9 million (£76m) in today's money. "I have no one to leave the money to. I’m a single man. I like spending my money", the then-53-year-old John said of his wild spending habits in 2000.

Thousands on flowers

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The star's wild 90s spending spree included splashing out around £293,000 on flowers, the equivalent of $726,000 (£568k) today, and approximately £9.6 million ($24m/£18.6m today) on property. Speaking of property, the singer owns several enviable abodes around the globe...

British homes

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Following the success of his Goodbye Yellow Brick Road record in the 1970s, John snapped up a sprawling countryside estate in Berkshire, England for $939,000. His regal manor, which sits on 37 acres of land and boasts views of Windsor Castle, was originally built in the 1500s for King Henry VIII's surgeon.

Following extensive renovations by the star to modernise the home, it's now valued at a cool $5 million (£3.9m). And that's not the only British abode in his impressive property portfolio: Sir Elton has also owned a sleek townhouse in London's Holland Park (pictured) since 1992.

The prestigious postcode, nicknamed Millionaire's Row, is home to numerous celebrities, including the Beckhams and Simon Cowell.

LA living

Elton John / Instagram

The music mogul is also the lucky owner of two Los Angeles mansions. Sir Elton and his husband, David Furnish, bought the first of their LA properties for $7.2 million in 2012, the equivalent of $9.9 million (£7.8m) today.

Even though their 5,000-square-foot (465sqm) home already included a swimming pool (pictured), sprawling gardens and a cinema room, the couple later snapped up the neighbouring property, which boasted five bedrooms and two swimming pools, for $8.5 million ($9.9m/£7.8 in today's money) in 2021.

The two mansions have since been combined into a single luxurious compound.

French holiday home

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Sir Elton snapped up a lavish holiday home on the French Riviera in the 1990s. Valued at $19 million (£14.9m), the 1920s villa can be glimpsed from the prestigious Promenade des Anglais (pictured) and offers stunning views of the Mediterranean coastline. The star has invited various A-list friends to vacation at his plush Nice pad over the years, including Elizabeth Hurley, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Million-dollar decorating

Elton John/Instagram

As well as spending millions on luxury real estate, the singer spares no expense when it comes to decorating his houses. For example, he hired top interior designers Fred Dilger and Monique Gibson to transform his property on the French Riviera.

When he auctioned off the contents of his London home in 2003 so he could redecorate, he gave fans a glimpse of the historic paintings and plush furniture (including leopard skin sofas) that he'd previously favoured.

Pictured: Elton John and David Furnish inside the library of their Holland Park home.

Art collection

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Sir Elton has been an avid art collector since the 1990s, with works by renowned artists such as Damien Hirst, Robert Mapplethorpe and Andy Warhol adorning his walls. Though his collection is thought to be worth around $200 million (£157m), John said in a 2016 interview with The Guardian: "I collect for the beauty, not the value. I’m in awe of these things".

Swish superyacht

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When Sir Elton isn't rocking the stage or relaxing at one of his multiple mansions, you'll probably find him living it up on his $26.8 million (£21m) superyacht. The luxury yacht sleeps 12 guests and includes an on-deck jacuzzi, swimming platform, BBQ area and gym.

The star enjoys vacations aboard the vessel with famous friends, including the likes of Neil Patrick Harris and Victoria Beckham (pictured together here).

Costly car collection

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Like many of the mega-wealthy, Sir Elton has a penchant for supercars. Known for his extravagant style, the pop legend once snapped up a 1960 Rolls-Royce Phantom V and painted it pink!

Other vehicles in his collection over the years include an Aston Martin V8, a Jaguar XJ220 and several other Rolls-Royce models, including the 1973 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI pictured here.

Sunglasses collection

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Sir Elton is rarely spotted without a pair of statement sunglasses and claims to own 250,000 pairs. In a 2010 interview with the BBC, he revealed: "I don't have an iPod, a mobile phone, or a computer. I do have a quarter of a million pairs of glasses, but I don't even have a mobile phone!"

According to sources, John has a room in his house dedicated to his beloved accessories, which is kept at a consistent 16°C (60°F). (Who knew that sunglasses had an optimal temperature..?)

Elton's heirs

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While Sir Elton enjoys a life of unimaginable luxury, his sons Zachary and Elijah will have to earn their own fortune if they want to follow suit. Elton John and David Furnish have decided not to leave their fortune to the boys.

In a 2016 interview with the Mirror, Elton revealed: "Of course I want to leave my boys in a very sound financial state. But it’s terrible to give kids a silver spoon. It ruins their lives".

He added: "Listen, the boys live the most incredible lives; they’re not normal kids, and I’m not pretending they are. But you have to have some semblance of normality, some respect for money, some respect for work."

And Elton John isn't the only star who feels that way: take a look at the rich and famous who aren't planning to leave their fortunes to their kids