Best-Selling Musicians of All Time, Ranked

By: ThePostMaster

Date:

August 11, 2025

Updated

2025-08-11T18:48:09Z

The best-selling musicians of all time include Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, and Whitney Houston.
RIAA ranked the best-selling musicians of all time based on total album units sold in the US.
Swift, Drake, and Beyoncé are among the newest artists to make the cut.

You might feel like Taylor Swift is the biggest musician of all time thanks to the number of albums she’s recorded, the tickets she’s sold, and the headlines she’s generated.

In fact, she hasn’t cracked the top 20.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) lists the best-selling musicians of all time, based on total certified album units sold in the US. It also includes streaming figures.

Artists from multiple different genres — pop, country, instrumental jazz, rap, metal — have earned their spots on this list.

Keep scrolling to see the 50 best-selling music artists of all time in the US by album sales.

John Lynch, Travis Clark, and Will Gendron contributed to a previous version of this post.

50. Bob Dylan — 36 million units

American folk-rock singer-songwriter Bob Dylan performing at BBC TV Centre, London, 1st June 1965. — Timothée Chalamet was nominated for an Academy Award for playing Dylan in the biopic “A Complete Unknown.”

Val Wilmer/Redferns/Getty Images

49. Tupac Shakur — 36.5 million

American rapper Tupac Shakur at the premiere of "I Like It Like That" to benefit women in need, 13th November 1994. — Shakur released four albums before his death in 1996.

Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images

47 (tie). Beyoncé — 37 million units

Beyoncé performs onstage during the "RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR" at PGE Narodowy on June 27, 2023 i — Beyoncé is the most-awarded artist in Grammy history.

Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood/Getty Images

47 (tie). Backstreet Boys — 37 million units

Portrait of American boy band Backstreet Boys, The Hague, Netherlands 2nd April 1998. Left to right Alexander James McLean, Howie Dorough, Kevin Richardson, Brian Littrell and Nick Carter. — The Backstreet Boys’ 2019 album “DNA” was their third No. 1 album.

Paul Bergen/Redferns/Getty Images

45 (tie). Rod Stewart — 38 million units

Singer Rod Stewart performs on stage at the Acer Arena on February 26, 2008 in Sydney, Australia. — Stewart has released 32 albums over the course of 55 years.

Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

45 (tie). Foreigner — 38 million units

Kelly Hansen and Bruce Watson of Foreigner perform at Ryman Auditorium on August 18, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee — Foreigner’s best-known song is “I Want to Know What Love Is.”

Terry Wyatt/Getty Images

43 (tie). Simon & Garfunkel — 38.5 million units

June 1972: American singers and musicians Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel performing at 'Together with McGovern,' a fundraising concert for the presidential candidate George McGovern, Madison Square Garden, New York City. Both sing while Simon plays guitar. — Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel met in elementary school in the ’50s.

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

43 (tie). Britney Spears — 38.5 million

Britney Spears performs during Now! 99.7 Triple Ho Show 7.0 at SAP Center on December 3, 2016 — Some of Spears’ No. 1 albums include “…Baby One More Time,” “Oops! I Did It Again,” “Britney,” “Circus,” and “Femme Fatale.”

Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

42. Chicago — 39 million units

27th August 1970: American rock band Chicago, in England to top the bill at the 1970 Isle of Wight festival. From left to right; Pete Cetera (bass), James Pankow (trombone), Lee Loughnane (trumpet), Terry Kath (guitar), Walter Parazaider (saxophone) and Danny Seraphine — Chicago had five consecutive No. 1 albums from 1972 to 1975.

Ian Showell/Keystone/Getty Images

41. Eric Clapton — 40 million units

Eric Clapton performs on stage playing acoustic guitar at the Royal Albert Hall, London, 1998. — Clapton had his first hit single, “I Shot the Sheriff,” over 50 years ago.

Phil Dent/Redferns/Getty Images

38 (tie). Tim McGraw — 41 million units

Tim McGraw performs during the Windy City Smokeout on August 5, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. ( — Almost all of McGraw’s albums have topped the country charts.

Michael Hickey/Getty Images

38 (tie). Reba McEntire — 41 million units

Reba McEntire performs at Bridgestone Arena on October 21, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. — McEntire released her 32nd album, “Not That Fancy,” in 2023.

Jason Kempin/Getty Images

38 (tie). Bon Jovi — 41 million units

Jon Bon Jovi of the band Bon Jovi performs on stage during Rock In Rio day 3 at Cidade do Rock on September 29, 2019 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. — Bon Jovi released their sixteenth album, “Forever,” in 2024.

Alexandre Schneider/Getty Images

37. Queen — 43 million units

Photo of Freddie MERCURY and QUEEN; Freddie Mercury performing live on stage, — Rami Malek won an Oscar for portraying Queen front man Freddie Mercury in the film “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

Fin Costello/Redferns/Getty Images

36. Santana — 43.5 million units

Guitarist Carlos Santana performs at The Beacon Theater on October 18, 1996 in New York City — Santana’s last No. 1 album was 2002’s “Shaman.”

Al Pereira/Getty Images

33 (tie). Guns N’ Roses — 44.5 million units

Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan of Guns N' Roses perform onstage during the Power Trip music festival at Empire Polo Club on October 06, 2023 in Indio, California. — Guns N’ Roses’ debut album, 1987’s “Appetite for Destruction,” peaked at No. 1.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Power Trip

33 (tie). Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band — 44.5 million units

Bob Seger of Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet band performs in concert at The Palace of Auburn Hills on April 11, 2013 — Seger retired from performing in 2019 after 50 years.

Scott Legato/WireImage/Getty Images

33 (tie). Alan Jackson — 44.5 million units

Singer/Songwriter Alan Jackson performs at The OMNI Coliseum in Atlanta Georgia February 19, 1991 — Jackson’s hit songs include “Don’t Rock the Jukebox,” “Chattahoochee,” and “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” which he performed with Jimmy Buffett.

Rick Diamond/Getty Images

31 (tie). Kenny Rogers — 47.5 million units

Kenny Rogers performing on stage, 1978. — Rogers died in 2020 at the age of 81.

David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images

31 (tie). Drake — 47.5 million units

Rapper Drake performs onstage during "Lil Baby & Friends Birthday Celebration Concert" at State Farm Arena on December 9, 2022 — Drake is one of the best-selling artists of the 21st century.

Prince Williams/Wireimage/Getty Images

29 (tie). Shania Twain — 48 million units

Shania Twain performs onstage during the 2019 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 24, 2019 — Twain almost lost her ability to sing after her Lyme disease diagnosis in the early 2000s.

Kevin Mazur/AMA2019/Getty Images for dcp

29 (tie). Kenny G — 48 million units

kenny g — Kenny G’s album “Breathless” is the best-selling instrumental album of all time.

Getty

28. Alabama — 49 million units

Alabama (Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry and Jeff Cook), U.S. country music band, pose sitting on stools, circa 1980.. — Alabama was formed in 1969.

David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images

27. Neil Diamond — 49.5 million units

Singer Neil Diamond performs onstage at Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Debra Lee at The Beverly Hilton on February 11, 2017 — Diamond retired from performing in 2018 after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Lester Cohen/WireImage/Getty Images

26. U2 — 52 million units

: Bono of U2 performs on stage at Mediolanum Forum on October 12, 2018 in Milan, Italy. — U2’s most successful albums include “The Joshua Tree,” “Rattle and Hum,” and “Achtung Baby.”

Sergione Infuso/Corbis/Getty Images

25. Journey — 52.5 million units

American rock group Journey, New York, June 1979. Left to right: guitarist Neal Schon, bassist Ross Valory, keyboard player Gregg Rolie, singer Steve Perry, and drummer Steve Smith. — Guitarist Neal Schon (left) is the only original member of Journey who’s still in the band.

Michael Putland/Getty Images

24. Celine Dion — 53 million units

Celine Dion speaks onstage during the 66th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 04, 2024 — Dion has released 27 albums, 10 of which have reached the top 10.

Monica Schipper/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

23. Fleetwood Mac — 55.5 million units

Photo of Stevie NICKS and FLEETWOOD MAC; Stevie Nicks performing live onstage — Stevie Nicks had a successful solo career outside of Fleetwood Mac.

Richard E. Aaron/Redferns/Getty Images

22. Van Halen — 56.5 million units

At the backstage of Van Halen on their 1984 tour in support of their sixth studio abum 1984, — Van Halen was hugely successful but only had one No. 1 song, “Jump,” in 1983.

David Tan/Shinko Music/Getty Images

21. Taylor Swift — 57 million units

Taylor Swift onstage wearing a sparkly bodysuit, flexing her bicep. — Swift’s Eras Tour is the first tour to gross $1 billion.

AP Photo/George Walker IV

20. Whitney Houston — 61 million units

American singer and actress, Whitney Houston, performs at the Pine Knob Music Theater during her "Moment of Truth" world tour, on July 31, 1987 — Houston died in 2012 at the age of 48.

Icon and Image/Getty Images

19. Eminem — 61.5 million units

eminem — Eminem is the best-selling rapper of all time.

Getty

18. Metallica — 63 million units

James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett of Metallica perform on stage at Johan Cruijff Arena on April 29, 2023 — Metallica released their 11th album, “72 Seasons,” in 2023.

Paul Bergen/Redferns/Getty Images

17. Madonna — 65.5 million units

Madonna performs onstage during the 2019 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 1, 2019 — Madonna has been nicknamed the Queen of Pop.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

16. The Rolling Stones — 66.5 million units

rolling stones — The Rolling Stones celebrated their 62nd anniversary in 2024.

Getty

15. Barbra Streisand — 68.5 million units

Barbra Streisand performs onstage at Madison Square Garden on August 03, 2019 in New York City — Streisand released her 970-page memoir, “My Name Is Barbra” in 2023.

Kevin Kane/Getty Images for BSB

13 (tie). George Strait — 69.5 million units

George Strait performs at the Coal Miner's Daughter: A Celebration Of The Life & Music Of Loretta Lynn at the Grand Ole Opry on October 30, 2022 — Strait has had 60 No. 1 songs across various Billboard charts, the most of any artist in any genre.

Jason Kempin/Getty Images

13 (tie). Aerosmith — 69.5 million units

Steven Tyler of Aerosmith performs live on stage at the Wells Fargo Center on September 02, 2023 — Aerosmith retired from touring in 2024, 51 years after their debut album was released.

Lisa Lake/Getty Images

12. Bruce Springsteen — 71 million units

Bruce Springsteen performs at the 7th annual "Stand Up For Heroes" event at Madison Square Garden on November 6, 2013 — Springsteen became a billionaire in July 2024.

Jemal Countess/Getty Images

10 (tie). Pink Floyd — 75 million units

David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Nick Mason and Rick Wright from the band Pink Floyd on stage at "Live 8 London" in Hyde Park on July 2, 2005 — Pink Floyd’s biggest hits include “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2,” “Money,” and “Keep Talking.”

MJ Kim/Getty Images

10 (tie). Mariah Carey — 75 million units

Mariah Carey performs onstage for "Merry Christmas One And All!" at Yaamava' Resort & Casino at San Manuel on November 15, 2023 — Carey has had 19 No. 1 hits, the most of any female artist.

Kevin Mazur/WireImage for MC/Getty Images

9. Elton John — 81 million units

Sir Elton John performs on stage during Day 5 of Glastonbury Festival 2023 on June 25, 2023 — John completed his EGOT in 2024 when he won an Emmy.

Leon Neal/Getty Images

8. AC/DC — 84 million units

Stevie Young, Brian Johnson, Angus Young, and Cliff Williams of AC/DC perform onstage during the Power Trip music festival at Empire Polo Club on October 07, 2023 — It took eight albums for AC/DC to top the charts.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Power Trip

7. Billy Joel — 86 million units

Billy Joel performs at Madison Square Garden on December 19, 2023 in New York City — Joel released “Turn the Lights Back On” in 2024, his first new song in 17 years.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

6. Michael Jackson — 89 million units

Michael Jackson performs in concert circa 1986 — Jackson has been crowned the King of Pop.

KMazur/WireImage/Getty Images

5. Led Zeppelin — 112.5 million units

Robert Plant and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin — Led Zeppelin hasn’t released a new album since 1982’s “Coda.”

Jay Dickman/CORBIS/Corbis/Getty Images

4. Eagles — 120 million units

Members of the American soft-rock ensemble The Eagles sit on chairs as the perform on the television show 'Don Kirschner's Rock Concert,' 1979. Bandmembers are (left to right) Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Joe Walsh, and Don Felder. — The Eagles’ album “Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)” is the best-selling album of the 20th century in the US.

Fotos International/Getty Images

3. Elvis Presley — 146.5 million units

Rock and roll musician Elvis Presley performing on the Elvis comeback TV special on June 27, 1968. — Presley is an iconic symbol of American pop culture.

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

2. Garth Brooks — 162 million units

garth brooks — Brooks has recorded nine albums that have been certified platinum, the only musician to do so.

Getty

1. The Beatles — 183 million units

the Beatles — It’s unlikely that the Beatles will ever be surpassed in the era of streaming.

Getty

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