Mentioning the rock and roll genre and how it took over the music scene in the 1970s without mentioning Elton John by name is impossible. The Rocketman, as many would call him because of his 1972 hit of the same name, is a once-in-a-lifetime talent. John has broken barriers through his music, songwriting and stage persona and is one of the greatest living musicians working today. With a roster full of global hits and contributions to Broadway musicals, films, and more, Elton John has amassed a massive fortune, but there’s a lot more to him than just his net worth.

Recently named Time Elton John, named the magazine’s Icon of 2024, is a name that has remained relevant for decades while continuing to reinvigorate himself as an artist. The singer had a busy 2024 with the release of his new documentary. Elton John: Never too latewhich premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. John has also revisited his 1973 single “Step into Christmas” with a new music video featuring Cara Delevingne dressed as him. The year also brought some disappointing news for the artist as it was revealed that he had lost his eyesight. The singer spoke for the first time about his problems with his eyesight after he contracted an infection in the south of France in July this year.

Despite his current health, John is unstoppable in his drive to continue working and has been on a press tour to promote his documentary. From his staggering net worth to his legendary music career, here are some of the fascinating things you need to know about Elton John.

Things to know about Elton John: Net worth, legendary music career and more

The story of how Reginald Kenneth Dwight became Elton John

Before he became a great musician, Elton John, born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in Pinner, Middlesex, learned piano at a young age. His extraordinary talent for playing the instrument was first discovered at the age of three when he surprised his family by playing the Skater Waltz by ear. John’s exceptional skills also earned him a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London. After studying at the academy for five years, he left the Royal Academy of Music (RAM) before completing his final exams to pursue a career in rock and roll. At the age of 15, John was hired as a pianist in a local pub, where he was popularly known as “Reggie”. While John performed songs by Jim Reeves and Ray Charles, he also began experimenting with his look and began wearing horn-rimmed glasses inspired by American singer Buddy Holly, which eventually became a signature part of his fashion choices.

The emergence of Elton John first began after he formed a band called Bluesology in 1962. Consisting of some members who were friends of his, John’s Bluesology began touring and also acted as a support act for well-known names of the time, including the Isley Brothers and Major Lance. After working with the band for a few years, John’s musical career took a big turn in 1967 when he answered an ad from Liberty Records and his meeting with the label’s then manager, Ray Williams, led to the birth of the greatest songwriter. Musical duos in history, with Williams introducing him to Bernie Taupin. In 1967 the two released their first song together, “Scarecrow”.

John and Taupin later joined Dick James’ DJM Records as songwriters in 1968 and wrote material for several artists including Roger Cook and Lulu. At this time, John adopted his new name Elton John – honoring two members of his band Bluesology: saxophonist Elton Dean and singer Long John Baldry. In 1972 he officially changed his name to Elton John.

The collaboration between Elton John and Bernie Taupin

Elton John’s first hit album, which reached number four on the US Billboard 200 and number five on the UK Albums Chart, was released in April 1970. For the self-titled album, The singer and Taupin worked with Gus Dudgeon as producer and Paul Buckmaster as musical arranger. One of the most successful tracks from the album was “Your Song,” which became the first major hit of Elton John’s career. The magic of John and Bernie’s collaboration began in the 1970s and continued for a long time. The duo’s working process reportedly went so smoothly as Taupin wrote the lyrics and Elton interpreted them with music.

One of their most successful collaborations came with the album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, a double album released in October 1973. Not only did it receive critical acclaim, but it also secured top spot in the US and UK charts for two months. The album features some of John’s biggest hits, which are still at the top of playlists, including US number 1 “Bennie and the Jets”, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” and “Candle in the Wind”. Collaborating on more than 30 albums, their triumphant partnership also earned them induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992.

His mentorship and influence on young artists

The most admirable thing about Elton John’s career is that he has renewed himself with each decade and successfully mastered the second and third acts of his musical journey. After gaining fame as a solo artist, John then moved into Broadway and film, composing gems for artists such as The Lion King soundtrack, Billy Elliot: The Musical and recently the musical The Devil Wears Prada. among other things. In the third act of his career, John has taken on the role of mentor to emerging artists. One of the big names the singer supported early in her career is Lady Gaga. The duo developed a close bond after John mentored Gaga in her early days. Their relationship grew even stronger after he asked Gaga to be godmother to his children with husband David Furnish.

The music legend even released an album, The lockdown sessions in 2021, where he collaborated with several young artists including Miley Cyrus, Charlie Puth, Dua Lipa and Olly Alexander. In an interview with hits radio, Speaking about being inspired by new artists and young musicians, John said: “I listen to all new music, I know all the old music, but it’s the new music in life that inspires me.” He recently praised in a sweet Instagram Credit also to Chappell Roan for her meteoric rise to fame.

John’s collaborations also spawned records, considering his hit “Cold Heart” with Dua Lipa earned him the title of the first solo artist in six different decades to have a top 10 single.

Beyond music, Elton John has also used his influence and experience from working in show business and overcome all of his dark vices by helping other artists. After quitting drugs and alcohol in 1990, the music legend advocated for sobriety and also sponsored Eminem while he struggled with addiction. In his Me In his memoir, Elton revealed: “I am Eminem’s AA sponsor. Whenever I call to check in with him, he always greets me the same way: “Hello, you bastard,” which I think is very Eminem.”

The connection to the British royal family

Elton John has a long history with the British royal family. In 1998, Elton John was knighted as Sir Elton John by Queen Elizabeth II for his charitable and musical contributions. He was also known to be a close friend of Princess Diana and even wrote the song “Princess” for her in 1981.

He later also performed a rewritten version of his 1973 hit “Candle in the Wind” at Princess Diana’s funeral in 1997. The singer’s moving performance was one of the most memorable parts of the service. While the original song was a tribute to Marilyn Monroe and had the lyrics “Goodbye Norma Jean.” The revised version, rewritten with John’s lyricist Bernie Taupin, changed the lyrics to “Goodbye, England’s Rose” to honor the late princess.

Over the years, John also maintained close friendships with other members of the royal family, including Princess Diana and King Charles’ sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. Amid the royal row that rocked England in 2020 and led to Prince Harry stepping down from his role and moving to the US with his wife Meghan Markle, the British singer continued to support the couple.

His marriage and relationship with David Furnish

The story of how Elton John met his husband is no less than a sweet moment in a movie. The duo met at a dinner party hosted by a mutual friend in 1993 and they went on their first date the very next day. The couple’s relationship remained strong over the years and the two eventually entered into a civil partnership in December 2005. Nine years later, after same-sex marriage was legalized in Britain, they officially tied the knot. Elton and David are parents to two sons, Zachary and Elijah, who served as ring bearers at their wedding.

Elton John’s Net Worth and Awards

Considering he’s one of the biggest names in the music industry, the massive fortune the British singer has amassed comes as no surprise. From 2024, according to celebrity net worth, Elton John’s current net worth is $650 million. With more than 300 million albums sold worldwide, much of his wealth is the result of his brilliant music career. The singer has also increased his net worth extensively through his concert tours, namely his own Farewell to the yellow brick road The tour grossed $939.1 million – making it the second highest-grossing concert tour of all time. In addition to music, John also reportedly earns over $2.8 million per year from endorsement deals. In the past, he has worked with brands such as Uber Eats, Diet Coke and others.

John is known to have spent his millions buying luxury properties, including a 1920s mansion that he bought for $19 million in the 1990s. He also owns a sprawling country estate in Berkshire, England, which overlooks Windsor Castle. He also owns two prime properties in Los Angeles. As for his fashion expenses, the singer, who is rarely seen without sunglasses, has a huge collection and once told BBC Radio 2“I don’t have an iPod, a cell phone, or a computer. I own a quarter of a million pairs of glasses, but I don’t even own a cell phone!”

The singer is also known for his philanthropic efforts, particularly the work of his charity, the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF), which he founded in 1992 after his friend Freddie Mercury, the frontman of Queen, died of AIDS.

In addition to the financial rewards that John’s craft has brought, his other accomplishments include numerous honors, including the coveted EGOT status and winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award. John has won two Oscars for Best Original Song and a Tony Award for Best Original Score Aida in 2000 and five Grammy Awards. At the 2024 ceremony, he won his first Emmy in the Outstanding Variety Special (Live) category for his Disney+ special Elton John: Farewell from Dodger Stadium.

(Main and main images: Elton John/Facebook)