Who Has Earned the Most Money as a Song Writer?

The field of songwriting is one of the most lucrative career paths we have today. Thanks to the rise of the popular music streaming services and podcasts, as well as YouTube and Soundcloud, the opportunities for emerging and established artists are greatly multiplied. There are many examples of people who have made a living solely as a songwriter, from the multi-platinum selling superstitions to the many one-hit wonders. Here, we identify the top-earning songwriters of all time.

Tommy Hilfiger

Forbes Magazine has ranked the top songwriters of all time based on their collective song sales, with an emphasis on earnings over the past five years. One of the first to achieve commercial success as a songwriter was Tommy Hilfiger, whose songs have sold an impressive 86 million copies worldwide. Having begun his career at age 17, he went on to write songs for Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, and Diana Ross. Over the course of his professional career, Hilfiger sold his songs to movie studios for an estimated $30 million and had several number one hits, including “Stay,” “Charming,” and “Pity You.” He died in August 2018 at the age of 91.

Randy Jackson

Randy Jackson is best known for his work with Elton John, but he began his songwriting career at age 15, penning songs for the legendary singer-songwriter, who helped him land a record contract at age 18. After a few years of working together, the two forged a lasting bond and even named their publishing company, which they founded in 1968, after themselves (“Elton John and Randy Jackson).” Jackson went on to write songs for and with some of the biggest pop artists of all time, including Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Celine Dion. His song “Never Too Far,” which he co-wrote with Dion, won the coveted award for Song of the Year at the 2010 Grammy Awards. Since then, he has sold over 20 million copies of his songs worldwide. At 93 years old, he remains actively involved in songwriting and is often found collaborating with artists and producers such as Pharrell Williams, Marvin Gaye, and T-Pain.

Sylvester Stallone

While Hollywood may not be the best place to be if you’re looking for a job, it’s an excellent place to be a songwriter. One of the most iconic and successful film stars of all time, Sylvester Stallone, made his name portraying tough guys in over 75 films, including Rocky, The Expendables, and its sequel. Over the years, he has written songs for many of his famous co-stars, including the Bee Gees, Liza Minnelli, Barbara Hutton, and Tommy Hilfiger. In fact, it was due to his insistence that Tommy write the theme song for the 1972 movie, The Godfather, that the two eventually became friends. In 1979, Stallone formed a songwriting partnership with the iconic producer Giorgio Moroder, writing the theme song for the film, “Take On Me.” Together, they wrote over 20 songs for the soundtrack, which went on to sell over 5 million copies in the U.S. In 2019 alone, Stallone’s songs have reportedly been streamed over 250 million times on Spotify.

Elton John

Speaking of Hollywood, let’s not forget about the amazing, incredible, and one-of-a-kind Elton John. Best known for his piano-led ballads, the 70s glam rocker-turned-classical-pop-icon wrote his first song at age 11 and went on to write theme songs for films including Goodbye, Mr. Chips, Midsomer Murders, and Fame. Since founding his company, Rocket Entertainment, in 1973, he has composed and released over 150 songs, winning multiple Grammy Awards, Academy Awards, and Golden Globes along the way. His song “Bitter–Sweet,” which he co-wrote with Bernie Taupin, has been covered by multiple artists, including Boy George and Cyndi Lauper, and earned him a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He continues to rack up the hits, releasing new songs and albums frequently, with a new album due in April 2020.

Shania Twain

Another Grammy winner and Academy Awards nominee is none other than the talented and popular singer-songwriter, Shania Twain. She began her professional career at age 15, touring across North America with her family as part of the legendary Canadian country music group, The Country Teasers. Several years later, at age 19, she released her self-titled debut album, which has since sold over 20 million copies worldwide. Since then, she’s released eight more albums with global sales exceeding 40 million copies, becoming one of the best-selling music artists of all time. She has also won many prestigious awards, including three Grammy Awards and four Academy Awards, for Best Country Album, Best Country Song, Best Country Performance by a Female Artist, and, most recently, Best Pop Solo Performance for her song “You Had Me From Hello.” Her song “Somebody Else’s Girl,” co-written by Shania herself with Jack Parrott, won the Grammy for Best Country Song in 2019. In 2020, she is set to release her ninth studio album, “Now.”

Marvin Gaye

Finally, let’s not forget about one of the greatest music artists of all time, Marvin Gaye. Best known for his 1963 hit, “How Sweet It Is,” which sold over one million copies in the U.S., the multi-platinum selling, Grammy Award-winning composer went on to have a successful solo career, releasing albums like “A Whiter Shade of Pale” and “More Marble Classics.” Over the years, he has collaborated with some of the greatest artists and producers of all time, working with George Jackson, Lenny Kravitz, and Rod Temperton, as well as producing songs for Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand, and Diana Ross. At 74 years old, he still tours the world, performing for sold-out audiences and releasing new music regularly.

The Top 10 Earnings

The top 10 songs, based on earnings, are as follows:

10. “I Want You To Want Me” (Alicia Keys and Estelle)- $0.15 million

9. “Baby, Baby” (Toni Braxton)- $0.145 million

8. “I Wanna Be Your Man” (Will Smith)- $0.135 million

7. “When Love Takes Over (Estelle’s Theme)- $0.125 million

6. “Love Is On The Line” (Boy George and Cyndi Lauper)- $0.115 million

5. “Love In Every Way” (Michael Jackson)- $0.105 million

4. “The Way You Make Me Feel” (Whitney Houston)- $0.095 million

3. “Take On Me” (Sylvester Stallone and Giorgio Moroder)- $0.085 million

2. “Take Me As I Am (Let Me Be Your Lady)- $0.075 million

1. “The Joker” (Elton John)- $0.065 million

Topping the list of the top-earning songwriters of all time is Elton John, whose songs have earned him over $100 million. He scored his first number one on the Billboard charts back in 1971 with the song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.” Since then, he’s gone on to have 45 of his songs reach the Top 10, with 19 of them going to number one. In total, his songs have sold over 600 million copies worldwide and have been featured in some of the biggest film scores, including The Lord of the Rings, The Dark Knight, and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Thanks to the technology that we have available today, music creation is easier than ever before. With the advent of apps like GarageBand and the rise of online platforms like YouTube and Soundcloud, anyone with a good ear can create music and potentially make some money off of it. For those who are looking to dive into the world of songwriting, here are a few tips from experts on how to make the most out of your talents.