Rick Astley Net Worth (2024)

How much is Rick Astley worth?

About Rick Astley

Rick Astley, whose full name is Richard Paul Astley, is an English musician, radio personality, singer, and songwriter that rose to prominence thanks to his association with the production trio Stock Aitken Waterman. At the height of his career, it is estimated that Astley earned income equal to a salary of $2 million dollars per year.

His 1987 recording of the Stock Aitken Waterman’s song “Never Gonna Give You Up” was a number 1 hit single in 25 countries, winning the 1988 Brit Award for Best British Single. His discography includes eight studio, five compilation, and two remix albums. His short career began in the early 1980s and lasted less than two decades. By the time he retired in 1993, he had sold over 40 million records worldwide and had a net worth of an estimated $3-5 million dollars (not adjusted for inflation).

English singer, songwriter and radio personality Rick Astley has an estimated net worth of $14 million dollars, as of 2023. Astley rose to fame through his association with the production trio Stock Aitken Waterman.

The English singer who famous after he began singing with Stock Aitken Waterman in the 1980s, was born on February 6, 1966 in Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire. He’s the fourth child of his family and his parents divorced when he was five. Astley remained with his father after the divorce, however, he had more contact with his mother.

Inspired by many artists such as Donovan, Elton John, John Lennon, and Paul McCartney, Rick was always fascinated by music.

His musical career began in the mid-1970s when he was just ten years old. At that time, he began singing in the local church choir. He wasn’t paid but it was somewhere that he could flex his vocal skills. During his pre-teen and teen years, he formed a group with his friends and played the drums in many local bands.

After he dropped out of high school when he was sixteen, he began working as a driver for his father’s market-gardening business. Outside of his job, he continued to play drums in a Northern club circuit and make sporadic appearances at local music festivals and (talent) competitions. He wasn’t earning much but he was beginning to lay the foundations for his future music career.

After an impressive performance at a talent exhibition, Rick Astley impressed the officials of Stock Aitken Waterman, specifically the record producer Pete Waterman. He began working at his recording studio PWL (Pete Waterman Limited), with the giant RCA Records publishing his songs. Under the tutelage of SAW (Stock Aitken Waterman), he was able to learn the recording process quickly and was finally working in the music business.

His very first song was released in 1987 and was titled “When You Gonna”, which was followed by his solo offering “Never Gonna Give You Up”. Later, he released his single “Whenever You Need Somebody” that served as the lead single of his eponymous debut studio album. Much to the surprise of everyone, Rick’s first album was a commercial success. Astley’s net worth is estimated to have been as high as $1-2 million dollars (not adjusted for inflation), by 1989.

It was a chart-topper in Oceanian, European, and North American countries such as Australia, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom. With more than 15 million copies sold out, the debut album became his best-selling studio record that also received gold and platinum certifications in more than ten different countries.

Right after his successful first studio album, Rick continued to create new music. Over the next ten years and more, he released three more acclaimed studio albums titled Hold Me in Your Arms, Free, and Body and Soul. By 1993, when he announced his retirement, he had sold approximately 40 million records from only four studio albums. His net worth was estimated to be around $3-5 million dollars (not adjusted for inflation).

After a seven-year hiatus, during which he focused his entire attention on his family, Rick Astley made his return to the music industry in the late months of 2000. He signed a recording deal with the uprising label Polydor Records. Since then, with that label, he has released four albums – Keep It Turned Up, Portrait, 50, and Beautiful Life. Just like his previous four albums, Rick toured many countries around the globe to promote his music and entertain his fans.

At the time his career was having a revival, in early 2007, Rick became an internet sensation following the creation of the so-called “rickrolling meme”. Just a couple of months ago, in mid-June 2020, a user on Reddit with the username “theMalleableDuck” became famous after he successfully “rickrolled” Astley himself.

Astley’s Total Net Worth

Rick Astley has earned estimated total career income of $30 million dollars. As Astley lived in the United Kingdom and earned through high tax years, he will have had to pay around 51% in taxes on his career income. After tax, it is estimated that his career earnings are at around $14.7 million dollars, having paid $15.3 million dollars in taxes.

Rick Astley married Lene Bausager in 2003 and they remain together. They have one child together, Emilie Astley, and have seemed to have enjoyed a happy and stable relationship. In his personal life he has likely spent $2-3 million dollars of his career earnings but also earned $3-4 million dollars from his investments. He will have also had to pay around $1-2 million dollars in business related costs. Therefore, it is estimated that Rick Astley has a net worth of about $14 million dollars.

Summing-Up

When it comes to British artists that instantly gained fame and wealth with their talents, Rick Astley is certainly one of them. He’s known for his rich and deep voice and heartfelt lyrics that became number one hits all over the world. Over the course of his career, from his work on radio and television and of course, from his best-selling music records, Astley has earned a net worth estimated to be $14 million.