Billy Joel Net Worth (Money & Salary)

Billy Joel’s Net Worth – What Does He Have?

An American singer and songwriter, Billy Joel has amassed a net worth of $250 million. Recognized as one of the best-selling music artists globally with over 160 million records sold, Joel’s success peaked in the 1970s and ’80s. During this period, he released a series of hit albums and singles that have become classics.

Renowned for his storytelling prowess and talent for creating catchy pop tunes, Joel’s noteworthy albums include “The Stranger” (1977), featuring hits like “Just the Way You Are,” “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song),” and “Only the Good Die Young.” “52nd Street” (1978), which received the Grammy for Album of the Year, contained the popular single “My Life.” Furthermore, “Glass Houses” (1980) included the chart-topper “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me,” and “An Innocent Man” (1983) paid tribute to 1950s and ’60s music styles.

One of his most beloved songs, “Piano Man,” from the 1973 album of the same name, is considered his signature track, showcasing Joel’s ability to weave engaging stories with captivating melodies.

Earnings of Billy Joel

From June 2017 to 2018, Billy Joel earned $45 million, and from 2017 to 2019, he brought in $50 million.

During residencies like the multi-year series at Madison Square Garden, Joel can earn $2-3 million per show. His New Year’s Eve show in 2019 generated $4.6 million. Between 2014, when the residency started, and the conclusion of 2019, Joel earned $150 million from his MSG performances.

MSG Residency Revenue

Over a decade until July 2024, Billy Joel held a monthly residency at Madison Square Garden, NYC. Across 104 concerts attended by two million fans, the shows amassed $260 million from ticket sales exclusively.

Early Years

Born William Martin Joel on May 9, 1949, in the Bronx, NYC, Joel comes from a family background rich in music. His father, a German classical pianist and entrepreneur, fled the Nazis, while his mother’s ancestors hailed from Kent, England. Joel’s musical journey began at age 4 with piano lessons, leading him to join his first band at 14 and eventually pursue a full-time music career after leaving school.

After leaving his first band, Joel joined the Hassles in 1967. Despite releasing several albums, success continued to elude him until he started his solo career.

In July of 1970, however, their partnership was short-lived due to Joel having an affair with Small’s wife, Elizabeth.

Transitioning to a solo career in 1971, Joel signed a deal with the record company Family Productions, releasing his debut solo album, “Cold Spring Harbor” (1971). Despite the album’s lack of success, it caught the attention of Columbia Records, leading to him being signed in 1972. Throughout his tenure with Columbia, Joel released albums such as “Piano Man” (1973), “Streetlife Serenade” (1974), and “Turnstiles” (1976). It was not until his fourth solo album, “The Stranger” (1977), that he gained mainstream popularity, selling over 10 million copies and spawning hit singles like “Just the Way You Are,” “Only the Good Die Young,” and “She’s Always a Woman.” His subsequent albums include “52nd Street” (1978), “Glass Houses” (1980), “The Nylon Curtain” (1982), “An Innocent Man” (1983), “The Bridge” (1986), “Storm Front” (1989), and “River of Dreams” (1993).

Billy Joel has sold over 150 million records worldwide, solidifying his place as one of the best-selling artists in history. Accumulating 23 Grammy nominations with six wins, he is a member of both the Songwriter Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Joel ceased actively recording songs in 1993, with an exception being the release of the album “Fantasies & Delusions” in 2001. Departing from his usual style, this album features classical piano compositions performed by his longtime friend and pianist, Richard Hyung-ki Joo.

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Joel has intermittently toured solo and with artists like Elton John. He holds a monthly residency at Madison Square Garden, which began in 2014 and featured his 72^nd consecutive monthly show on January 25, 2020. Joel’s compilation album, “Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2” (1985), became a top-selling album in the U.S., further showcasing his popularity. He was honored with the Kennedy Center Honors in 2013.

Announcing the conclusion of his Madison Square Garden residency, Joel revealed that his 100th performance in the series, scheduled for July 2024, would mark his 150th lifetime performance at the venue.

Business Manager Lawsuit

In 1989, Billy filed a $90 million lawsuit against his former manager, Frank Weber. Weber, who was his former brother-in-law, was accused of mishandling $30 million of the singer’s money, prompting Joel to seek $60 million in damages. Weber later declared bankruptcy. Joel pursued legal action against his accountants and lawyers, ultimately settling for a reported $8 million.

Other Projects

Authoring the autobiography “The Book of Joel: A Memoir” (2011) with assistance from Fred Schruers, Joel has ownership in the Long Island Boat Company and a shop in Oyster Bay, Long Island, specializing in custom retro-styled motorcycles. In 2014, the biography “Billy Joel” was published, drawing from extensive personal interviews with Schruers.

Personal Life

Elizabeth Weber Small was Joel’s first wife. Initially sparking from an affair while she was still married to Jon Small, one of Joel’s musical collaborators, their relationship evolved into marriage in 1973 before ending in divorce in 1982.Billy Joel, nearly broke after the loss of roughly $30 million in mismanaged funds by Elizabeth’s brother Frank and a multi-million dollar divorce settlement, left the marriage financially unsound. As he entered his second marriage to American model Christie Brinkley, he constantly toured to generate funds, causing a major rift and allegations of infidelity. Their marriage lasted from 1985 to 1994, during which they had a daughter, Alexa Ray Joel. Joel’s third marriage was to chef Katie Lee from 2004 to 2009. His fourth wife is Alexis Roderick, whom he married in 2015 after being together since 2009. Together, they have two daughters, Della Rose Joel and Remy Anne Joel.

Never having received his high school diploma due to insufficient credits back in 1967, Joel made up for it 25 years later by submitting essays to the school board of Hicksville High School, eventually receiving his diploma in 1992. He has also been honored with various honorary doctorates 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 been involved in the buying and selling of impressive properties across the country, particularly in Florida and Long Island, New York. He humorously refers to himself as the “realtor to the stars” after selling homes to celebrities like singer Sting, comedian Jerry Seinfeld, and retail executive Mickey Drexler.

In 2002, Joel purchased a 14-acre mansion called Middlesea on Centre Island in Oyster Bay, New York, for $22.5 million. He expanded the property to 26 acres and further developed its 14,000-square-foot mansion to 20,000 square feet. The estate boasts amenities like a helipad, a beach house, and two pools. In May 2023, Joel listed this property for an impressive $49 million. He also owns another property in Sag Harbor, New York.

In 2014, Joel acquired two side-by-side properties spanning 4 acres in Manalapan, Florida, for just under $12 million. One lot was undeveloped, while the other featured a nearly 9,000-square-foot mansion. He listed the combined compound for sale at $29 million in 2015, eventually selling it for $10.3 million in January 2020, which excluded the undeveloped lot.

In January 2015, Joel purchased another Manalapan estate for $22.495 million, a 13,000-square-foot waterfront mansion, which he listed for sale at $55 million in January 2024, later reducing the price to $50 million in March 2024.

Additionally, in 2006, Joel acquired a New York City townhouse for $5.9 million, which he later gave to his ex-wife Katie Lee in their divorce settlement. She sold the property in 2011 for $12.9 million.