Ed doubles fortune to £160m ... without releasing an album!
‘Potential to reach billionaire status’
HE hasn’t released any new music since his 2017 album Divide.
Yet that hasn’t stopped Ed Sheeran doubling his £80million fortune thanks to sold-out concerts and the continued success of the record worldwide.
In 2018 the singer earned more in a single year than any other musician and is now worth £160million, according to The Sunday Times Rich List.
The rise was driven by his world tour for Divide, which was the third-highest selling album last year and has now sold 16million copies worldwide.
The 94 gigs promoting the album grossed more than £340million as he played to nearly five million fans, including four sold-out dates at the 70,000-capacity Wembley Stadium.
But the Suffolk-raised singer, 28, who married childhood friend Cherry Seaborn in a private ceremony just before Christmas, hasn’t earned anywhere near enough to top the music rich list.
No1 spot goes to Andrew Lloyd Webber, who is worth £820million. The impresario’s fortune grew by £80million last year as his musicals continued their run of success around the world, including a record-breaking 32nd year on Broadway for Phantom of the Opera.
Old rockers make up much of the list, with Sir Paul McCartney, 76, in second place with £750million, Sir Elton John, 72, in fourth with £320million and Sir Mick Jagger, 75, in fifth with £275million. Sheeran is the 17th