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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallThe familiar “Top 12 Richest Bassists in the World” list is a historical ranking attributed to TheRichest in 2014—not a current or verified measure of anyone’s personal fortune. In the figures reproduced by Guitariste.com, Paul McCartney leads at an estimated $1.2 billion, followed by Sting and Gene Simmons at $300 million each. The ranking gives no valuation method, so treat every amount below as a dated media estimate, not an audited net-worth figure.
The reported 2014 ranking
Guitariste.com published the list on 2 September 2014 and attributed it to Canadian site TheRichest. The table preserves the ranking’s reported order, associations and amounts. Its rounded estimates should not be read as precise or comparable financial disclosures.
| Rank | Bassist | Band or association shown | Estimate attributed to TheRichest, 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul McCartney | The Beatles | $1.2 billion |
| 2 (tie) | Sting | The Police | $300 million |
| 2 (tie) | Gene Simmons | Kiss | $300 million |
| 4 | Roger Waters | Pink Floyd | $270 million |
| 5 | Adam Clayton | U2 | $150 million |
| 6 (tie) | John Deacon | Queen | $115 million |
| 6 (tie) | Flea | Red Hot Chili Peppers | $115 million |
| 8 (tie) | John Paul Jones | Led Zeppelin | $80 million |
| 8 (tie) | Bill Wyman | Rolling Stones | $80 million |
| 10 | Geezer Butler | Black Sabbath | $65 million |
| 11 | Tony Kanal | No Doubt | $45 million |
| 12 | Krist Novoselic | Nirvana | $40 million |
Guitariste.com’s 2014 list is the source for the names, ranking and attributed amounts.
How reliable are these net-worth estimates?
The ranking page does not explain how it calculated the figures. It provides no primary financial disclosures or accounting of assets, debts, royalties, taxes, estates or business interests. The amounts therefore cannot establish what any musician was worth in 2014, much less what they are worth today.
#1 Best Overall
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- This beginner guitar comes with a 30-day subscription to Fender Play that includes lessons with thousands of instructional videos to build your skills by playing the songs you love, all with no additional cost
- Designed for beginners, the Squier Debut Series features the iconic Fender Precision Bass model, and includes a super-comfortable "c" shaped neck, laurel fingerboard and thin, lightweight body for more comfort and playability
- The Squier Debut Series Precision Bass features a split-coil pickup with volume and tone controls that offers punchy P-Bass tones, and the vintage-style open-gear tuning machines provide smooth and accurate tuning
A December 2014 post by Bobby Owsinski reproduces the same list and figures. A 2020 bass-instruction article also says the ranking was established by TheRichest in 2014. These later appearances show the list circulated; they do not independently verify the estimates. Rolling Stone Germany published an overlapping top-ten gallery in August 2014, which is another historical media ranking rather than primary financial evidence.
What the list leaves out—and what it cannot show
Guitariste.com itself questions why Lemmy and Geddy Lee are absent and also mentions Victor Wooten and other virtuoso bassists who do not appear. The source does not state inclusion criteria, so the twelve names should not be treated as a comprehensive worldwide ranking.
Rank #2
- One Squier Debut Series Precision Bass Guitar – a perfect beginner guitar for all ages
- Designed by the most trusted name in guitar and backed by a 75-year legacy of quality and craftsmanship
- This beginner guitar comes with a 30-day subscription to Fender Play that includes lessons with thousands of instructional videos to build your skills by playing the songs you love, all with no additional cost
- Designed for beginners, the Squier Debut Series Fender Precision Bass includes a super-comfortable "c" shaped neck, laurel fingerboard and thin, lightweight body for more comfort and playability.
- The Squier Debut Series Precision Bass features a split-coil pickup with volume and tone controls that offers punchy P-Bass tones, and the vintage-style open-gear tuning machines provide smooth and accurate tuning
Owsinski observed that all the people on the list except Bill Wyman were songwriters as well as bass players. That is commentary on the lineup, not evidence of the income sources or finances of each individual, and it does not establish that songwriting alone explains anyone’s wealth.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Further reading for bass fans
Bass Heroes, edited by Tom Mulhern, is a 202-page collection of interviews with 30 bass players, including Paul McCartney. Hal Leonard’s 2005 dealer catalog identifies the book and lists ISBN 0-87930-274-7; that bibliographic information does not establish present-day availability.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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Rank #4
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Rank #3
- Short-scale 4-string Bass Guitar with Poplar Body
- Dual Single-coil Pickups - Walnut Flat
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- Maple Neck
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