Steve Gadd Highest-Paid Drummer in the World

It's been a rough year for the drummer, but at least he has his millions of dollars to ease the pain. 80-year-old Steve Gadd has taken the No. 1 spot on People With Money’s top 10 highest-paid drummers for 2026 with an estimated $75 million in combined earnings.

UPDATE 01/01/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Steve Gadd tops annual list of highest-paid drummers

In 2023 it looked like the drummer’s spectacular career was winding down. Suddenly, he was back on top. People With Money reports on Wednesday (December 31) that Gadd is the highest-paid drummer in the world, pulling in an astonishing $75 million between December 2024 and December 2025, a nearly $40 million lead over his closest competition.

People With Money’s factors

In compiling this yearly list, the magazine considers factors such as upfront pay, profit participation, residuals, endorsements and advertising work.

The American drummer has an estimated net worth of $215 million. He owes his fortune to smart stock investments, substantial property holdings, lucrative endorsement deals with CoverGirl cosmetics. He also owns several restaurants (the “Fat Gadd Burger” chain) in Washington, a Football Team (the “Irondequoit Angels”), has launched his own brand of Vodka (Pure Wondergadd - US), and is tackling the juniors market with a top-selling perfume (With Love from Steve) and a fashion line called “Steve Gadd Seduction”.

The ranking is significant for many Steve fans, who have been waiting for his triumphant return to the glory days for what seems like a lifetime.

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