Billy Joel Net Worth

What is Billy Joel's Net Worth?

Billy Joel is an American singer and songwriter who has a net worth of $250 million. Billy Joel is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold over 160 million records worldwide. His career peaked in the 1970s and '80s, during which he released a string of successful albums and singles that have since become classics.

Joel is famous for his storytelling ability and his knack for creating memorable, melodic pop songs. His biggest albums include "The Stranger" (1977), which houses the hits "Just the Way You Are," "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)," "Only the Good Die Young," and "52nd Street" (1978), which won the Grammy for Album of the Year and included the popular single "My Life." Additionally, "Glass Houses" (1980) contains the number one hit "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me," and "An Innocent Man" (1983) pays homage to various styles of 1950s and '60s music.

One of his most beloved songs is "Piano Man," from the album of the same name, released in 1973. This song, often considered his signature tune, encapsulates Joel's ability to craft relatable narratives set to compelling music.

Billy Joel's Earnings

Between June 2017 and June 2018, Billy Joel earned $45 million. In the same period between 2017 and 2019, he earned $50 million.

When Billy undergoes a residency, such as his multi-year Madison Square Garden residencies, he can easily earn $2-3 million per show. His 2019 New Year's Eve show grossed $4.6 million. Between 2014, when the residency began, and the end of 2019, Billy grossed $150 million from his MSG residency.

MSG Residency Earnings

Over a decade ending in July 2024, Billy Joel performed a monthly residency at New York City's Madison Square Garden. In total, he performed 104 concerts for two million attendees, generating $260 million in gross revenue from ticket sales alone.

Early Life

William Martin Joel was born on May 9, 1949, in the Bronx, New York City. His father was a classical pianist and businessman from Germany. His family fled the Nazis via Switzerland and Cuba before reaching the United States. Joel's mother's family was from Kent, England. His parents met in the late 1930s at a Gilbert and Sullivan performance at the City College of New York. His family moved to Hicksville, Long Island, while he was still young. There, he grew up with his younger sister, Judy. His parents divorced in 1957, and his father returned to Europe, settling in Austria, where he remarried. Joel's half-brother from his father's side, Alexander Joel, also pursued a career in music and was the chief musical director of the Staatstheater Braunschweig from 2001 to 2014.

At the age of 4, Joel began taking piano lessons at the insistence of his mother. Subsequently, he developed a love for and appreciation of classical music that he still feels today. A love of all things musical drove him to join his first band, The Echoes, while only 14. He attended Hicksville High School but ultimately did not graduate because he did not have sufficient credits. Rather than take summer classes to finish school, he opted to pursue a full-time musical career instead.

Early Career and Breakthrough

Billy Joel began his music career in the late 1960s and early 1970s, performing in several bands before emerging as a solo artist. His early group, The Hassles, achieved modest regional success, followed by a short-lived heavy metal duo called Attila. After those projects ended, Joel signed a solo deal and released his debut album, "Cold Spring Harbor," in 1971. The album was hampered by production issues and failed to gain traction, leaving Joel struggling to establish himself in the industry.

His fortunes changed dramatically with the release of "Piano Man" in 1973. The title track, inspired by his experiences playing in a Los Angeles bar under a pseudonym, became his signature song and a defining moment in his career. The album marked Joel's emergence as a distinctive songwriter and performer, blending pop, rock, and storytelling in a way that resonated with a wide audience.

Rise to Stardom in the 1970s

Following the success of "Piano Man," Joel built steady momentum with albums like "Streetlife Serenade" and "Turnstiles," the latter reflecting his return to New York and his growing connection to the city's identity. His breakthrough into mainstream superstardom came with 1977's "The Stranger," produced by Phil Ramone. The album spawned multiple hit singles, including "Just the Way You Are," "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)," and "Only the Good Die Young," and became one of the best-selling albums of his career.

Joel continued his dominance with "52nd Street" in 1978, which won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, and "Glass Houses" in 1980, which showcased a harder, more rock-oriented sound. By the end of the decade, he had firmly established himself as one of the most commercially successful and critically respected artists in popular music.

1980s Success and Global Reach

Throughout the 1980s, Joel maintained a remarkable run of success with a series of hit albums and singles. "An Innocent Man" (1983) paid tribute to the vocal styles of earlier decades and produced chart-topping hits like "Uptown Girl" and "Tell Her About It." The album further expanded his audience and reinforced his versatility as an artist.

In 1985, Joel released "Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2," which became one of the best-selling compilation albums of all time. He also made headlines as one of the first major American artists to tour the Soviet Union during the Cold War, a landmark cultural moment that underscored his global appeal.

His 1989 album "Storm Front" included the hit single "We Didn't Start the Fire," a rapid-fire historical narrative that became one of his most recognizable songs. By this point, Joel had achieved international superstardom, selling millions of records worldwide and consistently filling arenas.

Getty

Later Albums and Shift Away from Pop

In 1993, Joel released "River of Dreams," his final studio album of original pop songs. The album was commercially successful and included the hit title track, but it also marked a turning point in his career. After its release, Joel stepped away from producing new pop albums, citing a desire to move on creatively.

He later explored classical composition with the 2001 album "Fantasies & Delusions," which featured piano pieces performed by Richard Hyung-ki Joo. While this work represented a departure from his earlier style, it demonstrated his ongoing commitment to music and composition.

Touring, Residencies, and Legacy

Although he largely stopped releasing new pop material, Joel remained an active and highly successful touring artist. His live performances became a central part of his career, drawing large audiences around the world. In 2014, he began a historic residency at Madison Square Garden, performing monthly shows that regularly sold out and set attendance records.

Joel's catalog of songs, including classics like "Piano Man," "New York State of Mind," and "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant," has continued to resonate across generations. His ability to blend storytelling with memorable melodies has made him one of the most enduring figures in popular music.

Over the course of his career, Billy Joel has sold over 150 million records worldwide, earned multiple Grammy Awards, and been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. His influence on American music remains significant, and his body of work continues to define an era of songwriting excellence.

Business Manager Lawsuit

In 1989, Billy sued his former manager, Frank Weber, for $90 million. Weber was his former brother-in-law. The suit claimed that Weber mishandled $30 million of the singer's money and sought $60 million in damages. Weber subsequently filed for bankruptcy. Billy sued his accountants and lawyers and ultimately received a reported $8 million settlement.

Other Projects

Joel authored the autobiography "The Book of Joel: A Memoir" (2011) with help from Fred Schruers. Additionally, he has owned the Long Island Boat Company as well as a shop in Oyster Bay, Long Island, that makes custom retro-styled motorcycles. In 2014, the biography "Billy Joel" was released based on extensive personal interviews with Schruers.

Personal Life

Joel's first wife was Elizabeth Weber Small. Their relationship actually started as an affair, as she was still married to Jon Small, one of Joel's musical collaborators. Eventually, Joel and Small married in 1973, and they divorced in 1982. The loss of roughly $30 million in mismanaged funds at the hands of Elizabeth's brother Frank, PLUS a multi-million dollar divorce settlement, left Billy nearly broke when he left the marriage.

He was financially very unsound as he headed into his second marriage to American model Christie Brinkley. He constantly toured to generate funds. That caused a major rift and allegations of infidelity. They were married from 1985 to 1994 and had a daughter together, Alexa Ray Joel. His third marriage was to chef Katie Lee from 2004 to 2009. Joel's fourth wife is Alexis Roderick. He and Roderick married in 2015, but they have been together since 2009. Together, they have two daughters, Della Rose Joel and Remy Anne Joel.

Joel had never received his high school diploma after not having sufficient credits to graduate back in 1967. Instead, 25 years later, he submitted essays to the school board of Hicksville High School to make up his missing credits, and he was awarded his high school diploma at the school's graduation ceremony in 1992. Additionally, he has been awarded numerous honorary doctorates, including from institutions like Fairfield University, Berklee College of Music, Syracuse University, the Manhattan School of Music, and Stony Brook University.

Real Estate

Billy Joel has bought and sold a number of impressive properties around the country over the years, notably in Florida and Long Island, New York. He sold previous homes to singer Sting, comedian Jerry Seinfeld, and retail executive Mickey Drexler. He has jokingly referred to himself as the "realtor to the stars."

In 2002, Billy paid $22.5 million for a mansion called Middlesea that is set on 14 acres of an island called Centre Island in Oyster Bay, New York. He eventually expanded the property to 26 acres with several additional purchases. The original property featured a 14,000-square-foot mansion at the time of his purchase in 2002. He eventually expanded to 20,000 square feet. The property also features a helipad, a beach house, and two pools.

In May 2023, Billy listed this property for sale for $49 million. In March 2025, Billy sold a portion of the Centre Island property for $8 million. The section he sold spans five acres and features a 5,600-square-foot home. Known as the property's "gatehouse," it sits around 1,500 feet from the main house. In March 2026 he finally sold the main brick manor portion of the property for $23.2 million and two adjoining lots for a total of $5 million. In total, he fetched around $37 million, $12 million less than the original asking price of all lots. Billy owns another property in Sag Harbor, New York. Here is a video tour of Middlesea when it was first listed for sale:

In 2014, Billy paid just under $12 million for two side-by-side properties that cover 4 acres in Manalapan, Florida. One of the lots was undeveloped; the other featured a nearly 9,000-square-foot mansion. He listed the combined compound for sale in 2015 for $29 million. He offered the mansion on its own (without the undeveloped lot) for $19.5 million. He ultimately accepted $10.3 million in January 2020. He did not sell the undeveloped lot, which made up around three of the property's four acres.

In January 2015, Billy bought yet another Manalapan estate. He paid $22.495 million for the 13,000-square-foot waterfront mansion. Billy listed this estate for sale in January 2024 for $55 million. He lowered the price to $50 million in March 2024.

In 2006, Billy paid $5.9 million for a New York City townhouse. His ex-wife, Katie Lee, received this property in their divorce. She sold it in 2011 for $12.9 million.

Who's Richer?

Billy
Joel

Compare!

Alexa
Ray Joel