Who’s the richest Pink Floyd member? The band’s net worths, ranked: from Roger Waters’ US$16 million Bahamian investment with Shakira, to rival David Gilmour’s solo success
- David Gilmour rallied the band to release its first new music since 1994, the anti-war single Hey Hey, Rise Up! with Ukrainian vocalist Andriy Khlyvnyuk
- Drummer Nick Mason enjoys splashing on fancy Ferrari and Porsche cars while Richard Wright cut his three wives out of his US$70 million fortune after his death
Dadrockers of the world, rejoice – the legendary Pink Floyd have returned for the first time after nearly three decades away. The rousing anti-war plea Hey Hey, Rise Up! marks the British band’s first new music since 1994’s “The Division Bell”, and while it’s been touted as an unprecedented one-off in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it’s still sent music fans scurrying down the white rabbit hole of the band’s 55-year history.
The comeback was notably recorded by guitarist David Gilmour and drummer Nick Mason, with guests appearances from eclectic British musician/producer Nitin Sawhney and Ukrainian vocalist Andriy Khlyvnyuk. Founding member Roger Waters – who left the fold acrimoniously in 1985 – was notably absent, with long-standing session stand-in Guy Pratt on bass duties.
Khlyvnyuk left his band Boombox’s American tour to join the army and fight for his country, before being injured. Gilmour, who has a Ukrainian daughter-in-law and grandchildren, felt moved by Khlyvnyuk’s story and picked up his guitar once again with his band.
Pink Floyd has a history of recording epic anti-war music on albums “The Wall” and “The Final Cut” (both primarily penned by Waters), and songs Us And Them and The Dogs Of War.
Founded in London in 1965, the band has sold some 250 million albums worldwide. Among them, “Dark Side Of The Moon” and “The Wall” were listed first and eighth in the top 10 best selling albums of the 1970s, with 50 million and 33 million copies, respectively, according to BestSellingAlbums.
The band’s collective net worth is nearly US$800 million, and while many classic rock groups at this point in their careers have a chequered list of former members, Pink Floyd have only ever had five official members: the original guitarist Syd Barrett and late keyboardist Richard Wright, Mason, plus arch enemies Gilmour and Waters. So, according to the number crunches at Celebrity Net Worth, who came out on top when it came to cash flow?
5. Syd Barrett – US$5 million
Despite his short spell with Pink Floyd from 1965 to 1968, Syd Barrett has never been forgotten as the band’s co-founder, frontman and principal songwriter in their early years. He appeared on four seminal singles and the group’s first two first studio albums, with his approach defining breakout debut Piper at the Gates of Dawn’s psychedelic style. After leaving the band, he was replaced by Gilmour, and released two solo albums before retiring from music in 1972.