Sir Elton Hercules John is a British singer, songwriter and pianist. In this article, let’s examine Elton John Net Worth, early years, career, personal life, awards and achievements.

Elton John Net Worth

Early Years

Reginald Kenneth Dwight was born on March 25, 1947, in Pinner, Middlesex, England. He began playing piano at the age of three and attended the Royal Academy of Music.

He won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music, where he studied for five years. In 1962, he formed the blues band Bluesology, but his solo career took off in 1967 when he met lyricist Bernie Taupin.

Career

At 15, with the support of his mother and stepfather, Elton John began working as a pianist at the Northwood Hills Hotel, playing popular songs and some of his own compositions. He later formed the band Bluesology in 1962, which backed American R&B artists and eventually supported Long John Baldry. In 1967, John met Bernie Taupin, leading to their long-standing songwriting partnership. John adopted the stage name Elton John in homage to Bluesology members and legally changed it in 1972.

John and Taupin joined DJM Records in 1968, writing for various artists. In 1969, John’s debut album, “Empty Sky”, was followed by the successful self-titled album in 1970, featuring the hit “Your Song”. His first American concert was at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, leading to the success of albums like “Tumbleweed Connection” and “Madman Across the Water”.

In 1972, John released the album “Honky Château”, which topped the US charts. He continued to release successful albums, including “Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”. John formed The Rocket Record Company in 1974, signing other artists while his own records were released through MCA. He collaborated with John Lennon and played the “Local Lad” in the film “Tommy”. His 1975 album “Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy” debuted at number one in the US, marking a peak in his career before making significant changes to his band lineup.

1970-1999

From 1970 to 1976, Elton John achieved commercial and critical success, with seven consecutive US number-one albums and six number-one singles. In 1975, his rock album “Rock of the Westies” debuted at number one in the US, and his extravagant stage outfits gained attention. He also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and had success with “Island Girl” and “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” in 1976.

After announcing his retirement in 1977, John continued to release music, including “A Single Man” (1978) and “21 at 33” (1980), with mixed success. He faced challenges in the late 1970s and early 1980s, including a poorly received disco album and controversies over his performances.

In the 1980s, John made a notable comeback with “Too Low for Zero” (1983) and hit singles like “I’m Still Standing.” He faced criticism for performing in apartheid-era South Africa and married Renate Blauel in 1984. His 1985 collaboration with Dionne Warwick, “That’s What Friends Are For,” topped the US charts. John also enjoyed success with “Nikita” and the album “Ice on Fire” (1985).

In the 1990s, John saw a resurgence with “Sacrifice” (1990) and collaborations with artists like George Michael and Luciano Pavarotti. He won an Academy Award for “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from “The Lion King” (1994), and the song “Candle in the Wind 1997,” revised for Princess Diana’s funeral, became the best-selling single of all time. John also released the successful “Made in England” (1995) and collaborated on the musical “Aida” (1999), which won several awards.

2000-2007

By the early 2000s, Elton John preferred not to appear in his own music videos. Notable examples include Justin Timberlake portraying a young John in “This Train Don’t Stop There Anymore” and Robert Downey Jr. lip-syncing in “I Want Love”. In 2001, John performed “Stan” with Eminem at the Grammy Awards and took part in the Concert for New York City after the 9/11 attacks. In 2003, his single “Are You Ready for Love” topped the UK charts.

John returned to musical theatre in 2005, composing music for “Billy Elliot the Musical,” which was inspired by the film “Billy Elliot” and ran in London until 2016. The musical won multiple awards and grossed over $800 million globally. His collaboration with Bernie Taupin on the musical “Lestat” was less successful, closing after 39 performances in 2006. That year, John also topped the UK charts with Tupac Shakur’s posthumous single “Ghetto Gospel”.

In 2004, John began a residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas with “The Red Piano,” followed by “The Million Dollar Piano” from 2011 to 2018. He became a Disney Legend in 2006 and announced plans for an R&B and hip-hop album. In 2007, he marked his 60th performance at Madison Square Garden with a live broadcast concert.

2007-present

Throughout the late 2000s, John continued to collaborate with various artists and performed in significant events, including the Concert for Diana in 2007 and a duet with Ed Sheeran at the 2013 Grammy Awards. His 31st album, “The Diving Board,” was released in 2013, followed by “Wonderful Crazy Night” in 2016. John played a role in the 2017 film “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” and composed music for the Broadway adaptation of “The Devil Wears Prada.”

In 2018, John announced his retirement from touring to spend more time with his family, embarking on a three-year farewell tour that concluded in 2023. He also signed an agreement with Universal Music Group to represent his music catalog. The biopic “Rocketman,” starring Taron Egerton, was released in 2019, and John won an Academy Award for the song “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, John released “Regimental Sgt. Zippo” and the collaboration album “The Lockdown Sessions” in 2021. He achieved his first UK number one in 16 years with “Cold Heart” featuring Dua Lipa. John continued to work on various projects, including a musical about televangelist Tammy Faye Messner and a duet with Britney Spears. In June 2023, he headlined the Glastonbury Festival, drawing record TV viewership. His farewell tour ended in July 2023, making it the highest-grossing tour at that time, though John hinted at occasional future performances and a potential new album.

Discography

30 Studio albums

Empty Sky (1969), Elton John (1970), Tumbleweed Connection (1970), Madman Across the Water (1971), Honky Château (1972), Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player (1973), Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973), Caribou (1974), Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975), Rock of the Westies (1975), Blue Moves (1976), A Single Man (1978), Victim of Love (1979), 21 at 33 (1980), The Fox (1981), Jump Up! (1982), Too Low for Zero (1983), Breaking Hearts (1984), Ice on Fire (1985), Leather Jackets (1986), Reg Strikes Back (1988), Sleeping with the Past (1989), The One (1992), Made in England (1995), The Big Picture (1997), Songs from the West Coast (2001), Peachtree Road (2004), The Captain & the Kid (2006), The Diving Board (2013), Wonderful Crazy Night (2016), and Regimental Sgt. Zippo (2021).

5 Collaboration albums

Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (1986)
Duets (1993)
The Union (with Leon Russell) (2010)
Good Morning to the Night (with Pnau) (2012)
The Lockdown Sessions (2021)

10 Soundtrack albums

Friends (1971), The Lion King (1994), Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida (1999), The Muse (1999), The Road to El Dorado (2000), Aida (2000), Billy Elliot (2005), Lestat (2005), Gnomeo & Juliet (2011) and Rocketman (2019).

Personal Life

John married German recording engineer Renate Blauel on 14 February 1984. Blauel said she attempted suicide during their honeymoon in St-Tropez after John told her that he wanted to end the union. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1988.

Elton John met his partner, David Furnish, in 1993, and they entered into a civil partnership in 2005. They got married in 2014 when gay marriage became legal and have two sons, Zachary and Elijah, through surrogacy.

Awards and Achievements

John has received numerous prestigious awards, including five Grammy Awards and a Grammy Legend Award in 1999, five Brit Awards, two Academy Awards, two Golden Globes, a Tony Award, a Laurence Olivier Award, a Disney Legend Award, and the Kennedy Center Honor. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked him 49th among the most influential musicians of the rock and roll era.

He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. John was knighted in 1998 for his contributions to music and charity and was appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honour in 2020. In 2024, he won an Emmy, completing the EGOT set of awards.

Frequently Asked Questions About Elton John

1. What is Elton John’s net worth?

$650 million

2. How old is Elton John?

March 25, 1947

3. What is Elton John’s real name?

Reginald Kenneth Dwight

4. How many albums has Elton John released?

30 studio albums, 5 Collaboration albums and 10 Soundtrack albums.

5. Has Elton John written an autobiography?

Yes, “Me” (2019)

6. Has Elton John won any Grammy Awards?

Yes, 5 and a Grammy Legend Award in 1999.

7. Did Elton John marry?

Yes, to David Furnish since 2014

8. How many children does Elton John have?

2 sons, Zachary and Elijah

9. What is Elton John’s relationship with Bernie Taupin?

Longtime songwriting partner and lyricist

10. Has Elton John acted in any films?

Yes, including “Tommy” (1975) and “The Lion King” (1994)

11. What is Elton John’s charity work involvements?

AIDS research and LGBTQ+ rights

12. Has Elton John been knighted?

Yes, by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998

13. What is Elton John’s favorite piano?

Yamaha Disklavier grand pianos