Roger Waters Net Worth

What is Roger Waters' Net Worth?

Roger Waters is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and composer who has a net worth of $310 million. Roger Waters is a founding member of Pink Floyd and one of the most influential songwriters in rock history. Originally the band's bassist, he became the group's chief lyricist and conceptual leader in the 1970s, shaping its most iconic and ambitious albums. Waters was the driving creative force behind "The Dark Side of the Moon," "Wish You Were Here," "Animals," and "The Wall," penning deeply introspective lyrics that explored themes of war, isolation, power, and mental illness.

Following the release of "The Final Cut" in 1983, Waters left Pink Floyd amid escalating tensions with his bandmates, particularly David Gilmour. He declared the band "a spent force," but the remaining members continued without him, leading to a bitter legal battle over the use of the Pink Floyd name—a fight Waters ultimately lost.

As a solo artist, Waters released several albums including "The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking," "Radio K.A.O.S.," and "Amused to Death." In 2017, he released "Is This the Life We Really Want?"—his first studio album in 25 years. He also staged massive solo tours centered on "The Wall," with elaborate visuals and political commentary that echoed the album's original themes.

Waters has long been outspoken on global politics, often sparking controversy with his views. His criticism of U.S. foreign policy, the Israeli government, and support for pro-Palestinian causes has drawn both praise and condemnation. In recent years, his political stances—including comments on Russia's invasion of Ukraine—have alienated some fans and complicated professional relationships.

Catalog Sale

In one of the most high-profile catalog sales in music history, Pink Floyd sold its recorded-music and name-and-likeness rights to Sony Music for approximately $400 million in late 2024. The deal, finalized after years of negotiations and internal band disputes, included rights to the band's extensive recorded output and branding assets such as merchandise, artwork, and theatrical licensing. However, songwriting rights remained with the individual songwriters, meaning compositions credited to Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Richard Wright, or Syd Barrett were not part of the sale.

The deal gave Sony control over iconic albums like "The Dark Side of the Moon," "The Wall," "Wish You Were Here," and "Animals," which remained some of the best-selling and most influential rock records of all time. Also included was Pink Floyd's signature visual style, most of which was created by the design firm Hipgnosis and was deeply intertwined with the band's identity.

The sale had been delayed for years by infighting among the surviving members, particularly over Roger Waters' controversial political views. Nonetheless, the agreement ultimately came together in late 2024, reportedly driven by David Gilmour's desire to "be rid of the decision making and the arguments."

Early Life

George Roger Waters was born on September 6th, 1943, in Great Brookham, Surrey. His father died fighting in World War II when he was just five months old, and he was subsequently raised by his mother alongside an older brother. During his secondary school years, Waters was an active member of various sports teams. After graduating, he initially set his sights on a career as an architect, and he enrolled at Regent Street Polytechnic. During this period, he met two future members of Pink Floyd, Nick Mason and Richard Wright. By 1963, the trio was regularly playing music together in an informal band.

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Pink Floyd

When Bob Klose and Syd Barrett joined this informal band in 1963, Water switched to the bass guitar, and after a number of imaginative name changes, the band became Pink Floyd in 1966. Initially, Syd Barrett was the frontman of the band, but his mental health quickly deteriorated after the release of The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. By 1968, Barrett was gone and Waters started to take the lead in their creative process.

One of Waters' most notable contributions to the band was as a songwriter. He wrote most of the lyrics for Pink Floyd's next five albums, including the critically acclaimed Dark Side of the Moon. The 1973 album went on to sell over 40 million copies, elevating Pink Floyd to an insane level of commercial achievement. By 2005, Dark Side of the Moon was still selling 8,000 copies per week. By some estimates, it is the second-best-selling album of all time.

The Wall was another monumental album for Pink Floyd, and the 1979 concept album was largely based on the life of Roger Waters. With over 23 million copies sold in the US alone, it became the third-best-selling album in America. By 1983, Waters was taking even more creative control over the band. It got to the point where other Pink Floyd members (most notably Gilmour) were asking Roger to delay the release of albums so they could write lyrics and songs of their own.

In 1983, Waters didn't want to wait for the rest of the band members to catch up, as he had already written an entire album – Final Cut. The album was released even though no one other than Waters had any real creative input, and critics described it as "essentially a Roger Waters solo album." With this in mind, it wasn't a huge shock when Roger left Pink Floyd after the album's release.

Solo Career

In 1984 Roger released his first actual solo album, The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking, which received mixed reviews.

In 1985, he officially left the band and began his solo career. Due to the complex contract signed by Pink Floyd members, Waters was soon engaged in a legal battle over copyright issues, the use of the name "Pink Floyd," and other concerns. Eventually, an agreement was reached which allowed Roger to retain the lucrative rights to certain intellectual properties. The lawsuit created an even bigger rift between him and the remaining members of Pink Floyd, and their relationship was almost completely destroyed for the next 20 years. Waters later stated that he regretted ever moving forward with the lawsuit.

Roger's first solo album after leaving the band was 1987's Radio K.A.O.S.

In 1990, he staged The Wall – Live in Berlin, which became one of the most famous rock concerts in history. In 1992, he released the album Amused to Death, which he considers to be one of his best pieces of work. In 1999, he embarked on a successful tour across the United States.

In 2005, Roger Waters had a long-awaited reunion with Pink Floyd, playing a 23-minute set in London's Hyde Park. Throughout the next few years, Waters continued to tour, often playing Pink Floyd songs. In 2017, he released the album Is This the Life We Really Want?, his first solo effort in almost 25 years.

(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Relationships

Roger Waters' first marriage was to Judith Trim in 1969. In 1975, the pair divorced, and Waters married Lady Carolyne Christie a year later. Christie is the niece of the 3rd Marquee of Zetland, and she bore Roger two children before the marriage ended in 1992. A year later, he married Priscilla Phillips and had one child with her before they divorced in 2001. In 2012, Roger married actress Laurie Durning, but the relationship ended in divorce in 2015.

Earnings and Income

Between June 2017 and June 2018, Roger Waters earned nearly $70 million from his various musical and business ventures.

Real Estate

In 2006, Roger Waters and Shakira formed a business entity and purchased an entire island in the Bahamas. Waters and Shakira purchased the 700-acre island with the intention of building an extensive luxury resort. The island is called "Bond's Bay," and it's only 125 miles from Florida. The two musicians paid $16 million in the real estate deal, and many celebrities are reportedly interested in building mansions on the land.

In 2006, Waters sold three New York apartments in the Olympic Tower for approximately $14.5 million. In 2007, Roger Waters finalized a deal that saw him take possession of a massive New York townhouse for $15 million. Built in the style of a Louis XVI palace, the property features nine antique fireplaces and nickel/silver hardware.

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