| Real Name: | Brian Harold May |
| Birthday: | July 19, 1947 |
| Net Worth | $210 million |
| Height: | 187 cm |
| Occupation: | English Musician, Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer, Astrophysicist |
Brian May is an English born guitarist, singer, and songwriter for the famous band Queen. The band is one of the most popular and famous rock bands of all time. Their Bohemian Rhapsody is one of the 10 iconic rock songs. Bryan works professionally since 1965, and he still earns money thanks to Queen. So, how much does Brian May earn?
As of 2020, his cash flow is more than $210 million. He earned most of it thanks to album sales, tours, and endorsements. Brian May and Queen released 15 studio albums and a couple of live albums.
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How does he compare to other musicians?
Brian May wealth of $210 million puts him among the top 20 wealthiest musicians in the UK. Often, we compare his fortune with other legendary music figures. For example, Lars Ulrich of Metallica wealth is estimated at $300 million. But Slash from Guns N’ Roses wealth is $90 million.
He has assets close to those of Adele, but more than Jimmy Page, Phil Collins, and Chris Martin.
Who is the Wealthiest Queen Member?
Brian May and Freddie Mercury formed Queen in 1970 in London. The band is one of the best-selling music groups of all time. Their record sales range from 170 million to 300 million records. In 2001, Queen got inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In 2020, the combined wealth of the three remaining members is more than the Queen of England. Among his band members, May is the richest.
His cash flow is close to $210 million. Roger Taylor, the drummer for Queen has a cash flow of $200 million. Next is John Deacon, the bass guitarist for the band, who has a cash flow of $170 million. At the time of his death, Freddie Mercury’s wealth was estimated to be $50 million. Today, he would probably be worth more than his band members.
Net Worth and Sources of income
Most of Brian May’s earnings are from record sales and tours. He is an example of a musician earning his whole life from just one band. But Queen is a legendary band.
After Freddie Mercury died in 1991, the band went on a hiatus for several years. They started touring again after Adam Lambert joined the band in 2014. They went on tours for four years under the name Adam Lambert and Queen.
Up until now, Queen released 15 studio albums. They have sold more than 300 million records worldwide. Their highest-selling album is “Made in Heaven”, which made more than $10.995 million.
Record sales and albums are just one source of income. The band also makes a lot of money from touring. The Queen + Adam Lambert Tour earned more than $50 million in 2014. Their previous tour in 2013 earned $25 million.
Here is a list of the highest-selling albums.
- Their first album, Queen, released on July 13, 1973, earned just $620
- A Night at the Opera, released on November 21, earned more than $4.255 million
- News of the World, released on October 28, 1977, earned $6.15 million
- The Game, released on June 27, 1980, earned $4.45 million
- A Kind of magic, released on June 3, 1986, earned $2.36 million
- Made in Heaven, their last album, released on November 6, 1995, earned $10.995 million
The band also released five live albums and three compilation albums. Their compilation albums reached platinum and diamond certification. As for the live albums, the highest three are Live Killers ($4 million), Live Magic ($2.3 million), and Live at Wembley ($3.78 million).
Here is a breakdown of the compilation albums:
- Greatest Hits, released in 1981, earned $18 million and reached 8-times platinum
- Greatest Hits II, released in 1991, earned $22.15 million, reached diamond and 8-times platinum
- Classic Queen, released in 1992, earned $3.5 million, reached 3-times platinum
In 2018, the band participated in the making of Bohemian Rhapsody, a biographical movie. The movie featured actors like Rami Malek, Gwilym Lee, Mike Myers, and Lucy Boyton. The gross earnings of the movie are $900 million.
Besides the 15 Queen albums, Brian May also has a solo album. He released Back to the Light in 1992. But the album earned just $65,000.
Endorsements and social media
Brian May is the most popular member of Queen. He is also one of the most active members. Deacon retired, and May and Taylor continue the legacy. As such, May is always a target of endorsements. His details on earnings from endorsements are not out.
He also earns some money from merch sales. We said he is one of the most active members. He has more than 2.2 million followers on Instagram and more than 1 million followers on Twitter. According to Influencer Marketing Hub, he can earn between $3,000 and $7,000 for a sponsored post.
Brian is one of the more vocal activists and social workers. He works with different non-profit organizations and charity works. He supports League Against Cruel Sports, PETA UK, RSPCA, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
Assets and Lifestyle
Brian May’s wealth is over $210 million. He can afford to live luxuriously. But he lives away from the public. He has a residence in London and Windlesham, Surrey. His primary London property costs around $13 million.
The details on his Windlesham property are not out. Many speculate that the value is jaw-dropping. But nobody knows for sure.
He is also low-key about his car collection. Many newspapers speculate he owns a few luxurious cars. For example, some cite he owns a vintage Jaguar XJ-S.
His most valuable assets are his guitars. In July 2017, he auctioned one of them for an animal charity.
Here is a list of some of his guitars.
- Fender Stratocaster CBS era
- Gibson Les Paul Deluxe
- Martin D-18
- Birch replica plus an Ovation Pacemaker 12-string acoustic
- Fender Telecaster & Ovation
- Gibson Flying V
- Guild 12-String replacing Ovation Pacemaker