Net Worth Ranker
What Is Keith Richards’ Net Worth?
As of 2025, Keith Richards, the iconic English musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer, boasts a substantial net worth estimated at $500 million. This impressive figure is primarily attributed to his role as the co-founder, guitarist, secondary vocalist, and one of the principal songwriters for The Rolling Stones. Over their illustrious career, The Rolling Stones have sold more than 200 million records worldwide, contributing significantly to Richards’ wealth.
The Rolling Stones: A Foundation of Wealth
The Rolling Stones’ continued touring success plays a crucial role in maintaining Richards’ high net worth. In 2018 alone, the band grossed $117 million from just 14 shows. The songwriting partnership between Keith Richards and Mick Jagger has been exceptionally lucrative. Together, they have penned nearly all of the band’s original music, resulting in timeless hits such as “Angie,” “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” and “Paint It Black.” These songs not only cemented the band’s legacy but also generated substantial royalties for both Richards and Jagger.
Richards’ unique guitar playing style, marked by raw energy and innovative open tunings, has significantly contributed to The Rolling Stones’ distinctive sound. His signature “five-string” technique, which involves removing the low E string, became a defining characteristic of his playing. Beyond his instrumental contributions, Richards also provides backup vocals and occasionally takes the lead, as demonstrated in the song “You Got the Silver.”
The Rolling Stones, since their formation with the initial lineup including Brian Jones, Mick Jagger, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, and Ian Stewart, signed with Decca Records in 1963. Since 1969, the songwriting and production duties have been primarily managed by Jagger and Richards, known as “the Glimmer Twins.” Richards’ role as the bandleader, as noted by former member Ian Stewart, underscores his influence. The band has released over 100 albums, including 30 studio albums, and performed in over 2000 concerts worldwide, further bolstering their financial success.
Solo Endeavors and Production Credits
Outside of his work with The Rolling Stones, Keith Richards has explored solo projects. His first solo single, a cover of Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run,” was released in 1978. Following Mick Jagger’s solo pursuits in 1987, Richards established the group “X-Pensive Winos” with Steve Jordan. Their debut album, “Talk Is Cheap,” achieved gold certification and led to Richards’ first solo American tour. A second album, “Main Offender,” followed in 1992, also accompanied by a tour. Despite the collaborative nature of the X-Pensive Winos, both albums are credited to Richards as a solo artist. His third studio album, “Crosseyed Heart,” was released in September 2015.
Richards’ talents extend to producing, with credits on projects with artists like Aretha Franklin, Johnnie Johnson, and Ronnie Spector, in addition to his work with The Stones. In 1997, he released “Wingless Angels” on his own record label, Mindless Records, which he co-produced.
Acting Ventures
In addition to his musical endeavors, Richards ventured into acting, playing Captain Edward Teague in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, starting with “At World’s End” (2007) and reprising the role in “On Stranger Tides” (2011). Johnny Depp has stated that his character in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies are based on Richards and the Warner Bros. cartoon character Pepe Le Pew.
Early Life and Influences
Keith Richards was born on December 18, 1943, in Dartford, Kent, England, the only child of Doris Maud Lydia (née Dupree) and Herbert William Richards. His maternal grandfather, Augustus Theodore “Gus” Dupree, a musician who toured Britain with his jazz band, Gus Depree and His Boys, fostered Richards’ interest in music and gave him his first guitar.
Richards and Mick Jagger were childhood friends, attending Wentworth Primary School together and living as neighbors until 1954 when the Richards family moved. They reconnected on a train years later, discovering their shared passion for blues music through Jagger’s Chess Records albums by Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters. This led them to form The Rolling Stones in 1962.
Richards met Dick Taylor at Sidcup Art College, and Jagger knew Taylor from the amateur band Little Boy Blue and the Blue Boys, which Richards later joined. The Blue Boys disbanded after Brian Jones invited Jagger and Richards to the Bricklayers Arms pub, where they met Ian Stewart and connected over their shared interest in blues music.
Real Estate and Assets
Keith Richards’ assets include a collection of approximately 3,000 guitars. He owns multiple properties, including Redlands, a Sussex estate he bought in 1966 for 313,000 pounds. Actress Cate Blanchett purchased a nearby property in the East Sussex area for $4.68 million. Richards’ primary residence is in Weston, Connecticut, and he also owns a property on the private resort island of Parrot Cay in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Personal Life
From 1967 to 1979, Richards was romantically involved with Italian-born actress Anita Pallenberg. They had a son, born in 1969, and a daughter, born in 1972. Their third son passed away just over two months after his birth of sudden infant death syndrome on June 6, 1976. Richards married Patti Hansen on December 18, 1983, and they have two daughters, born in 1985 and 1986.
