Ed Sheeran’s built a fortune from his activities in the music industry. And while he’s not the richest person in the world or ranked as high as Bill Gates or Bernard Arnault, he’s still very wealthy by any standard.
Sheeran is best known for his music, but he’s also helped write songs for the likes of One Direction, Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift. What’s more, the star has appeared in several movies and TV shows, including Game of Thrones and Bridget Jones's Baby.
According to The Sunday Times Rich List, Ed Sheeran has a net worth of around £300m, although as most of his wealth is tied up in his private businesses and property, this figure is subject to a lot of speculation.
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Here, we look at how Ed Sheeran got to where he is today and the sources of his net worth.
Ed Sheeran’s music career
Ed Sheeran was born on February 17, 1991, in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England, and grew up in Framlingham, Suffolk. His career started at a young age when he started playing in local pubs and clubs to earn cash.
It quickly became apparent this young singer-songwriter had talent, as he wrote most of his own music. And he didn’t turn down an opportunity to play and get his voice heard, often playing for little or no money just so he could get his music out there and in front of people.
Sheeran’s career took a leap forward with the release of his first EP, The Orange Room, in 2005. It was such a success that his next release, the self-titled Ed Sheeran, came only a year later in 2006, and that was followed by Want Some? in 2007.
After establishing himself in the industry, Sheeran moved to London in 2008. Here he began making the connections that would accelerate his growth and open the door to collaborations with other artists, such as on his 2010 tour with UK artist Example.
Shortly after the tour, Sheeran published his debut album, + in 2011.
As you might expect, + jumped up the charts, and Sheeran, not wanting to miss an opportunity to get his name out there, embarked on a world tour. In a testament to his work ethic, he continued to release new music while on tour, publishing an EP called The Slumdon Bridge with rapper Yelawolf in 2012. Then in 2013, Sheeran featured on The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug soundtrack with his song I See Fire.
Sheeran’s whirlwind career showed no signs of slowing down. He published a second album, x (pronounced "multiply") in 2014. The album sold over 13 million copies worldwide and included hit singles such as Sing, Don't, and Thinking Out Loud.
Ed Sheeran’s influence on music
Ed Sheeran’s career has gone from strength to strength, but his work as an artist has only been part of the picture. A lot of his wealth has come not from singing songs, but from writing them. He’s written for the likes of Taylor Swift, One Direction and James Blunt, cementing his position as one of the music industry’s most influential figures.
Indeed, there are only a handful of singer-songwriters in the music industry and most songs are written by just a handful of people, some of whom can’t even sing themselves.
This is just one of the artist's other income streams. Like most musicians, Sheeran also makes money from tours, which can be highly lucrative. The x tour in 2014 and 2015 covered 180 dates and grossed over $150m according to some sources.
Sheeran’s 2017 world tour, which supported his ÷ (divide) album, lasted several years, finishing in 2019 and grossing $736m – at the time the highest-grossing tour ever.
The artist is currently in the middle of this latest tour, Mathematics. He completed the US and Asia legs in 2023, where he made $240 million gross, according to Forbes. As a result, in 2023, the star was a higher earner than Coldplay, Harry Styles and Elton John, who all toured in 2023.
On top of his tours, music and songwriting, Sheeran has his own music label, Gingerbread Man Records and a bar in London’s exclusive Notting Hill.
The singer-songwriter also owns a number of properties, with the total value of these assets valued at around £5 million.
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