Results: This survey is about the music phenomenon known as The Beatles.
Published on 05/31/2025
Taylor Swift has a significant net worth and is currently the wealthiest female musician, with a net worth of US$1.6 billion as of 2024. Tickets to see Taylor Swift, can range from around $450 to well over $2,000 for prime locations. She gets a higher percentage of this and all her merchandising revenue. The Beatles concert at Comisky Park, Chicago, in 1965 on the other hand, had tickets priced at $2.50, $4.50 and $5.50. The Beatles made $155,000 on that concert. Even adjusted for inflation, it was a lot less lucrative being a popular musician back then than it is now. Nevertheless, the four members of The Beatles are still amongst the wealthiest entertainers on the planet.
QUESTIONS
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Comments
1.
1.
The Beatles came on the scene when I was in my teens and their music (and everything else they did) was a big part of my life during the 1960s. Their contribution was not only music however. They were also a money making powerhouse and they continue to have an impact to this day. Here are some facts about the financial side of The Beatles. Which of them do you find interesting? (I have used Taylor Swift's career only for comparison purposes. )
To compare the Fab Four to a quartet of Cinderellas, it really was a rags-to-riches story for these Liverpool natives, as they grew up in the lower income areas of Merseyside. Taylor Swift on the other hand did not grow up in poverty. Her parents, Andrea and Scott Swift, were financially comfortable and had successful careers. She didn't have to perform in a strip club in Germany the way the Beatles did.
29%
492 votes
The 1960s were a long time ago. Considering inflation in the 60 years that have passed, the Beatles' overall fortunes are a healthy sum from album and record sales alone. Taylor Swift's family has an investment in Big Machine Records, a significant asset and they lived enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle. Taylor Swift's career has made her extremely wealthy but it was kick started by her parents.
31%
519 votes
Prior to The Beatles, there was very little revenue from the likes of T-shirts, endorsements, royalties, movie deals, and other merchandise that flowed to the artists themselves. The Beatles didn't even own the copyright to their earlier music. They eventually changed management and their experience was a lesson for other artists. Taylor Swift also had her share of management issues and now gets a much larger piece of the action.
31%
526 votes
None of the above.
16%
279 votes
Not Interested
30%
516 votes
2.
2.
"Back in the day" concert revenue was the main source of income and in order to have a concert, there had to be a new record album. Here are some details of what The Beatles made from these sources. Which of them do you find interesting?
Taylor Swift's Spotify (music streaming) earnings are considerable. She has earned over $386 million from the platform, with an estimated 96.5 billion streams. In 2023 alone, she earned over $100 million from Spotify. The Beatles were stuck with EMI and Capitol records.
22%
373 votes
The "Fab Four" made $1.76 billion in album sales from 1962 to 1970 alone before the band split up, and they got $17 million of that sum. If that is indexed for inflation the gross sum they earned is staggering and considering the much smaller percentage artists got at the time, the amount they were NOT paid borders on criminal yet was much more than most made.
38%
647 votes
Taylor Swift, as the star, gets the lions share of her much more lucrative contract. The Beatles meanwhile split their revenue four ways. How exactly they split their earnings is pretty complicated, but it was based on how much work each person did. That meant Paul McCartney and John Lennon got the biggest share, and Ringo Starr and George Harrison got a far less sizeable chunk of the cash.
24%
410 votes
None.
15%
252 votes
Not Interested
32%
550 votes
3.
3.
The Beatles were together from 1962 to 1970 where they had the most successful music sales, concert ticket sales, movies they appeared in, royalty income from many of their songs covered by other artists. Yet they lost revenue from their own music until they bought back their copyright. They also bought the rights to other successful music. Some band members did this more successfully than others. Here are some details of how each band member did financially. Which do you find interesting?
Coming in first place is Paul McCartney, who these days has roughly $1.2bn, taking his earnings from Wings and various other solo projects into account. Paul McCartney is the richest musician of all time estimated to earn $70m every year through royalties alone. At age 80, he shows no signs of retiring and still is able to rake in an average of US$60 million per tour.
38%
647 votes
John Lennon earned substantial wealth with The Beatles and his solo career. After his death, his estate (managed by Yoko Ono) continues to earn money from his music catalog and other means. His net worth was estimated to be $800m at the time of his death in 1980.
34%
574 votes
George Harrison was worth around $400m when he passed away in 2001. He became a successful solo artist after The Beatles and recorded 12 albums, many of which achieved gold or platinum status. In 1988, he masterminded the supergroup The Travelling Wilburys, comprised of himself, Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty. He even made a name for himself in the world of film production. His company Handmade Films produced some big British comedy hits including Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) and Time Bandits (1981)
30%
503 votes
Ringo Starr, now 82, gets millions per year from The Beatles' music, making him the richest drummer of all time. After the band split, he had a prolific solo career, releasing 20 albums. The latest one, What's My Name, was released in 2019, when he was almost 80 years old. He also founded Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band, with whom he has earned millions from almost 200 gigs that gross an average of US$300,000 per night. He has appeared in dozens of films and TV shows and has published six books. His net worth is estimated to be $320m.
31%
535 votes
None
13%
222 votes
Not Interested.
31%
531 votes
4.
4.
Given that The Beatles were only together for seven years, they still have produced a stream of money that, if combined, out performs any other musical entity. During their careers they did not succumb to the excesses fame can bring and remained decent human beings. Can you think of any other individual or group that can match the success of these "Four Young Lads From Liverpool"? Please share in the comments.
Yes
18%
301 votes
No
46%
777 votes
Not Interested
37%
622 votes
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