From David Byrne to Susan Boyle, Scotland has a proud musical heritage producing some global stars. But in more recent times one name has risen not in only fame but in worth – becoming one of the world’s wealthiest artists and Scotland’s richest musician.
Dominating dance floors and making a fortune along the way, Calvin Harris is one of the world’s most famous DJs, headlining some of the biggest festivals and has even dated pop megastar Taylor Swift. It’s a far cry from spinning decks in his home town of Dumfries.
Born Adam Richard Wiles 41 years ago, Harris’ journey began playing in local clubs while funding his dream by stacking shelves in supermarkets and even working in a fish processing plant before making a big move to London to pursue his passion. He finally broke through in 2007 with debut album I Created Disco and quickly became known for his floor-filling dance-pop anthems.
Since then, he has risen and risen in the industry, collaborating with some of the biggest names in pop from Rihanna and Dua Lipa to The Weeknd and Pharrell Williams. The Scot has consistently ranked among the UK’s wealthiest musicians, with estimations of his net worth varying, but with some reports as high as an eye-watering £230million.
Despite a huge estate on Spanish party island Ibiza and a mansion in The Cotswolds, Harris still speaks fondly of his upbringing in Dumfries and is known to often make the trip north and support some local events. His parents, who are originally from England, are now thought to have left the area and moved back south – taking up a home in Somerset.
Second on the list of richest Scottish singers is Annie Lennox, who is originally from Aberdeen, and is best known for her time in the 1980s’ new wave band Eurythmics, who is reported to be worth £50m. Glasgow’s Lewis Capaldi, 28, also ranks highly, with a net worth of around £30m.