Richest Bassists of All Time, Ranked by Net Worth

Bassists are often overshadowed by the other members of a band, but they play a pivotal role nonetheless. Their talent extends beyond just four strings, with many leveraging their musical prowess in other areas to accumulate their substantial wealth.

The bassists on this list have turned their musical contributions into lucrative ventures, solidifying their positions among the wealthiest musicians in the world. 

15. Geddy Lee

Bands: Rush

Birthdate: July 29, 1953 

Net worth: $40 million

One of the most celebrated Canadian musicians to ever grace the stage, Geddy Lee was the bassist and frontman for Rush for over four decades. Lee is also one of rock's most technically proficient bassists, and his playing style has inspired generations of musicians. Additionally, his distinct falsetto places him in the top tier of heavy metal vocalists.

Rush members Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart were honored with an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. He currently hosts a Paramount+ docuseries, "Geddy Lee Asks: Are Bass Players Human, Too?"

13. Michael Anthony (Tie)

Bands: Van Halen, Sammy Hagar and the Circle

Birthdate: June 20, 1954

Net worth: $50 million

Michael Anthony is renowned as Van Halen's original bass player — his playing (and backing vocals) helped define the band's hard-rock sound during its peak in the 1970s and 1980s.

Beyond Van Halen, Anthony has been involved other projects, such as the supergroup Chickenfoot, with Sammy Hagar (Van Halen vocalist after David Lee Roth's departure), Joe Satriani and Chad Smith.

Unlike some of the musicians on this list, he's never really sought the spotlight. "I can sing, but I consider myself a bass player. I'm, you know, a musician first. I'll sing backgrounds, but a lead singer, you know, you've got to have that mentality and personality. I'd rather be the bass guy."

13. John McVie (Tie)

Bands: Fleetwood Mac

Birthdate: Nov. 26, 1945

Net worth: $50 million

The moniker "Fleetwood Mac" draws inspiration from John McVie's surname, combined with drummer Mick Fleetwood's surname. McVie was recruited by Peter Green in 1967 to replace the band's original bass player, Bob Brunning. (Green wanted McVie and Fleetwood as the rhythm section so badly that he named the group Fleetwood Mac as a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy. And it worked!)

Within a year of joining, McVie wed Christine Perfect (aka Christine McVie). Green exited the group in the early 1970s — Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks would come to round out the band and contribute to its monumental success by selling hundreds of millions of records. 

McVie and the band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

12. Geezer Butler

Bands: Black Sabbath 

Birthdate: July 17, 1949

Net worth: $70 million

Terence Michael Joseph "Geezer" Butler was the bassist and primary lyricist for the pioneering metal band Black Sabbath. Alongside bandmates Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward, he played a pivotal role in shaping the hard-rock landscape of the 1970s. Butler also wrote the lyrics to some of Sabbath's most well-known songs, including "War Pigs," "Paranoid" and "Iron Man."

After Sabbath, Butler continued playing with Ronnie James Dio (who was also Sabbath's vocalist after Ozzy Osbourne) in his band, Heaven and Hell, until Dio's death in 2010.

Sabbath went on its final tour with the original members in 2016. Butler published his autobiography "Into the Void: From Birth to Black Sabbath — And Beyond" and announced his retirement from performing in 2023. 

10. Krist Novoselic (Tie)

Bands: Nirvana

Birthdate: May 16, 1965

Net worth: $80 million

Every subgenre has a top dog, and for grunge, that was none other than Nirvana. Singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain, drummer Dave Grohl (now the frontman for Foo Fighters) and Novoselic ruled the early '90s and, like punk in the mid-70s, gave rock a much-needed shot of energy. 

After Nirvana disbanded following Cobain's death in 1994, Novoselic stayed mostly out of the spotlight. He did continue playing, however, collaborating with acts such as Flipper and the Foo Fighters.

Beyond music, Novoselic is politically active. He has been involved with the electoral reform group FairVote, serving on its board and later becoming its chair. In 2023, Novoselic joined the Forward Party, assuming leadership in Washington State.

10. Bill Wyman (Tie)

Bands: The Rolling Stones

Birthdate: Oct. 24, 1936

Net worth: $80 million

Bill Wyman was hired by the Stones not because of his musical prowess but because of his amp. Brian Jones, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards weren't really sure he was right for the band (he was also a few years older), but his VOX AC-30 amp sealed the deal. According to Keith Richards in his autobiography, "Life," he wrote, "Bill had amplifiers! Bill came fully equipped. A Vox AC-30 amplifier, which was beyond our means to possess. Built by Jennings in Dartford. We used to worship it. We used to look at it and get on our knees. To have an amplifier was crucial. First off, I just wanted to separate Bill from his amplifier. But that was before he started playing with Charlie."

Wyman won everyone over and played with the Stones from 1962 to 1993, contributing to their iconic sound on hits like "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Brown Sugar," before retiring. He also formed Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings, exploring diverse musical genres such as blues and rockabilly.

8. John Paul Jones (Tie)

Bands: Led Zeppelin 

Birthdate: Jan. 3, 1946 

Net worth: $120 million

John Paul Jones' multifaceted talents extended well beyond the bass — his arrangements and prowess on keyboards and mandolin have played a pivotal role in shaping Led Zeppelin's unique sound. 

Zeppelin broke up in 1980 after the death of drummer John Bonham, but Jones continued playing as a solo artist and collaborating with the likes of Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney and Peter Gabriel. His contributions to Led Zeppelin led to the band's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.

8. Mike Rutherford (Tie)

Bands: Genesis, Mike and the Mechanics

Birthdate: Oct. 2, 1950

Net worth: $120 million 

Mike Rutherford co-founded the British prog rock band Genesis and is one of two continuous original members. By the early 1980s (and with the departure of original vocalist Peter Gabriel for drummer and frontman Phil Collins), Genesis became a pop powerhouse, cranking out hits like "Invisible Touch," "Land of Confusion" and "In Too Deep," among others. Genesis' 1986 "Invisible Touch" tour spanned a whopping 111 shows across 16 countries. 

In 1985, Rutherford introduced another equally successful project, Mike + The Mechanics, in which he further achieved chart success with hits like "All I Need Is a Miracle" and "Silent Running." In recent years, he released his autobiography, "The Living Years," named after one of the band's biggest songs. 

7. Flea

Bands: Red Hot Chili Peppers

Birthdate: Oct. 16, 1962 

Net worth: $160 Million

Born Michael Peter Balzary, Flea is best known as the bassist and co-founder of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. His unique blend of funk, punk and rock bass lines as well as his onstage charisma have solidified his iconic status in the band and beyond. 

Flea is proficient in several multiple instruments, including trumpet and piano, and he is known to collaborate with a variety of diverse artists. Additionally, he is an actor — he's been in several movies and TV shows, from "Baby Driver" to "My Own Private Idaho" — and is the co-founder of Silverlake Conservatory of Music, a non-profit that provides scholarships to children whose families cannot afford music lessons. 

6. John Deacon

Bands: Queen

Birthdate: Aug. 19, 1951 

Net worth: $180 million 

John Deacon held his position as Queen's bassist from its inception until just after the death of singer Freddie Mercury. His distinctive bass lines contributed significantly to Queen's unique sound, and he wrote some of the band's biggest hits, including "Another One Bites the Dust," "You're My Best Friend" and "I Want to Break Free."

Although guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor have continued on as Queen with singer Adam Lambert in Mercury's seat, Deacon has retired from playing and performing. May and Taylor have acknowledged that their interactions with Deacon are primarily limited to financial matters. 

5. Roger Waters

Bands: Pink Floyd

Birthdate: Sept. 6, 1943 

Net worth: $310 million

Roger Waters' musical endeavors have kept him in the public eye for over five decades. He crossed paths with fellow musicians Nick Mason and Richard Wright in secondary school, and the three began playing together in 1963, laying the foundation for what would become Pink Floyd. With the additions of Bob Klose and Syd Barrett the same year, Waters transitioned to bass guitar, and after various name iterations, the ensemble adopted the Pink Floyd name in 1966.

Initially led by Barrett, Floyd faced challenges due to his declining mental health. By 1968, Barrett departed, and Waters assumed a leading role with new member David Gilmour in steering the band's creative direction. Pink Floyd hit their creative peak in the '70s, with the release of such classics as "Dark Side of the Moon," "Wish You Were Here" and "The Wall."

Waters continues playing the songs of Pink Floyd as a solo artist today. Released in 1973, "Dark Side of the Moon" is one of the most successful albums of all time — it spent 988 weeks on the Billboard charts (a little over 18 years) and, as of this writing, has re-entered the Top 200. 

3. Adam Clayton (Tie)

Bands: U2

Birthdate: March 13, 1960 

Net worth: $400 million 

Bassist Adam Clayton has been with U2 since its humble beginnings in 1976. Alongside bandmates Bono, The Edge and Larry Mullen Jr., Clayton's melodic bass lines and vocals have played a crucial role in shaping U2's iconic sound. The band has sold over 200 million albums worldwide and continues to tour — in 2024, U2 has a residency at the Las Vegas Sphere, the world’s largest spherical-shaped venue.

Aside from music, Clayton dabbles in real estate (he owns several homes around the world) and contributes to many charitable causes, particularly in the realms of human rights and mental health. 

3. Gene Simmons (Tie)

Bands: KISS

Birthdate: Aug. 25, 1949 

Net worth: $400 million

Gene Simmons is more than a mere bassist — he's also KISS' co-founder and co-lead vocalist. Since forming KISS in the early 1970s alongside Paul Stanley, Simmons has been instrumental in shaping the band's larger-than-life persona and enduring musical legacy.

Simmons has also pursued various ventures that have solidified his status as a multifaceted entrepreneur and media personality. His diverse career encompasses acting roles, reality TV and entrepreneurial endeavors, ranging from comic books to coffins to a chain of restaurants.

KISS played their final show in December 2023 in New York's Madison Square Garden — but they are not done quite yet — their digital avatars will start playing shows in 2027. 

2. Sting

Bands: The Police

Birthdate: Oct. 2, 1951 

Net worth: $550 million

Sting (Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner), the former bassist and frontman for The Police, has an illustrious solo career. The Police achieved global acclaim with five platinum-certified studio albums, peaking in 1983 with "Synchronicity," which earned 8x platinum status and numerous Grammy Awards. But Sting has also sold over 100 million records as a solo artist.

He also has notable roles in films ("Quadrophenia," "Dune" and "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels"), in TV ("Only Murders in The Building" and "Ally McBeal") and on Broadway ("3 Penny Opera"). He has also written several books. His cultural contributions were recognized with a CBE by Queen Elizabeth in 2003.

1. Paul McCartney

Bands: The Beatles, Paul McCartney and Wings

Birthdate: June 18, 1942

Net worth: $1.2 billion

Every bassist on this list would tell you they owe a debt of gratitude to Paul McCartney. While Macca can play pretty much every instrument, he began playing bass fairly early on. Initially, McCartney was a rhythm guitarist but switched to bass after the group's previous bassist, Stuart Sutcliffe, decided to leave The Beatles in 1961.

McCartney's skills in songwriting, producing, instrumentation and innovative bass lines contributed greatly to the band's evolution. The group transformed the rock genre, blending creativity with catchy tunes that captured global audiences. Their innovative songs and harmonies set new standards in popular music, influencing countless artists afterward. Even though Wings wasn't as big a band as The Beatles, McCartney's influence continues to inform new generations of musicians to this day.