Yahoo Autos J.Lo, Lady Gaga and More: The Net Worths of the Super Bowl’s Richest Halftime Performers
In 2019, more than 98 million pairs of eyes were glued to the television screen watching the world’s most famous, talented and wealthy performers belt out approximately 13 1/2 minutes of songs at the Super Bowl.
While performers like 2017’s headliner, Lady Gaga, rake in more than a million dollars per concert when they’re on tour, they don’t get paid a penny for their Super Bowl appearances. Instead, Super Bowl halftime performers make money from increased sales of music and concert tickets after the game.
While everyone waits in anticipation for the over-the-top Super Bowl LIV halftime show production that Jennifer Lopez and Shakira are sure to roll out, here’s a look at the net worths of the richest halftime performers from 1993 to 2020. For those who are deceased, the net worth listed is their net worth at passing. For bands and musical groups, the net worth is calculated based on a sum of the individual members’ net worths.
Even though they don’t get paid for the Super Bowl, these musicians are making bank.
Last updated: Jan. 22, 2020
Travis Scott Net Worth: $40 Million
Travis Scott only appeared onstage for roughly 90 seconds during the 2019 halftime show, but he made the most of his time. The rapper — after being introduced by a “SpongeBob Squarepants” video clip — entered the stadium via an augmented-reality comet to perform his hit “Sicko Mode” while surrounded by flames.
Following his performance, sales of “Sicko Mode” increased 80%, Billboard reported.
Missy Elliott Net Worth: $50 Million
If you thought the dancing sharks, beach balls and palm trees were the pinnacles of the 2015 Super Bowl XLIX halftime show, you hadn’t seen anything yet. As the lights went down on bikini-clad frolickers on Katy Perry’s island, blue mist surrounded a mysterious silhouette that left some viewers perplexed.
Social media blew up with inquiries from the younger generation asking who it was. Grammy-winning artist Missy Elliott hadn’t released an album in 10 years while she worked on writing and producing. In the nearly three minutes it took Missy Elliott to work through a medley of “Get Ur Freak On,” “Work It” and “Lose Control,” she made a new generation of fans. Elliott’s music downloads and sales exploded nearly 1,000% in the days following the show.
Lenny Kravitz Net Worth: $50 Million
Katy Perry’s girl-on-fire dress and grand entrance on the back of a 28-foot-long, metallic lion wowed during the 2015 Super Bowl XLIX halftime show.
Lenny Kravitz looked right at home next to Perry in her $15,000 patent leather 3D flame dress. But Perry’s Swarovski crystal-studded shoes weren’t the only bling on stage.
Kravitz strutted to the mic to belt out the opening lyrics of “I Kissed a Girl“ dressed in shredded Hedi Slimane jeans and a black Saint Laurent motorcycle jacket. Beneath it all, he wore a gold mesh tank top designed by Natalia Fedner.
Patti LaBelle Net Worth: $50 Million
The 1995 Super Bowl halftime show was produced by Disney to promote its new Indiana Jones Adventure ride at Disneyland. Criticized as being one of the worst halftime shows of all time, the show featured over-the-top Indiana Jones-themed theatrics and vocal performances by Patti LaBelle and Tony Bennett.
Given the lackluster response, it should be no surprise that the performance didn’t lead to increased sales for LaBelle or any of the others onstage that year, Billboard reported.
Tanya Tucker Net Worth: $60 Million
In 1994, the Super Bowl halftime show went country with a lineup that included Tanya Tucker, Clint Black, Travis Tritt and The Judds. It’s one of the few times the genre was highlighted during the show — the only other time was Shania Twain’s performance in 2003.
Tom Petty Net Worth (Deceased): $95 Million
The lights went down in the stadium at the beginning of the 2008 Super Bowl XLII halftime show, revealing the outline of a heart-shaped stage. A large, lighted arrow rolled across the field to signal the start of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers’ opening number, “American Girl.”
Blowing through a medley of his greatest hits paid off for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Reeling in a new generation of fans, digital downloads of songs he performed rose more than 150%. Petty’s albums “Greatest Hits” and “Through the Years” increased in sales by 196% and 240%, respectively.
Stevie Wonder Net Worth: $110 Million
Stevie Wonder’s first halftime show appearance was in 1994 as a “special guest” during the finale. He then headlined the show five years later in 1999 alongside Gloria Estefan. Wonder entered the arena while driving a car and singing “Sir Duke” for this memorable performance.
The Black Eyed Peas Net Worth: $155 Million
Apl.de.ap net worth: $20 million
Fergie net worth (former member): $45 million
Taboo net worth: $15 million
will.i.am net worth: $75 million
Before Fergie quit The Black Eyed Peas, the group performed a selection of their old and new hits at the 2011 Super Bowl halftime show. The performance ended up being gold for their bottom line: The group’s then-current album, “The Beginning,” saw a 35% sales gain in the week ending Feb. 6, 2011. The next week, sales were up 61%, Billboard reported.
Christina Aguilera Net Worth: $160 Million
The new millennium kicked off with a Disney-sponsored halftime show with big-name headliners that included Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Phil Collins and Toni Braxton. Despite the star power of 2000’s show, many fans were disappointed that the performers sang little-known ballads instead of their more popular hits. Case in point, Aguilera joined Iglesias for a duet of the song “Celebrate the Future Hand in Hand.”
Pictured: Christina Aguilera attends the BMG Party at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 23, 2000.
Bruno Mars Net Worth: $175 Million
Bruno Mars was the first performer to appear on a halftime show twice in just two years. His performance at the 2014 Super Bowl XLVIII halftime show was such a hit that he reappeared as a guest act with Coldplay and Beyoncé in the 2016 Super Bowl 50 halftime show.
His performance at the 2014 halftime show started off innocently enough with children holding hands singing an excerpt from “Billionaire.” Mars made his grand entrance on a moving drum stage, beating the skins as an intro to “Locked Out of Heaven.”
Mars’ showmanship once again did not disappoint the audience in the 2016 Super Bowl 50 halftime show. After he performed “Uptown Funk,” he danced with Beyoncé before he ended his set with Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin joining him for a rendition of the song.
The Blues Brothers Net Worth: $182 Million
Dan Aykroyd net worth: $180 million
John Belushi net worth (deceased): $2 million
It might be hard to believe but in 1997, a fictional blues and soul band headlined the actual Super Bowl halftime show. Dan Aykroyd and the late John Belushi’s brother, Jim Belushi, took the stage as The Blues Brothers for this year’s show, a full 17 years after their group’s eponymous movie was released. Fortunately, they were joined by legitimate musicians on stage — James Brown and ZZ Top — but the performance has still gone down in history as one of the worst halftime shows of all time.
Janet Jackson Net Worth: $190 Million
It’s not often a performer makes a major ripple in the world within seconds. But that’s just what Janet Jackson did in her 2004 performance with Justin Timberlake at the Super Bowl XXXVII halftime show.
Known ever after as Nipplegate, Jackson’s bare breast emerged as Timberlake pulled at the front of her bustier during the last lines of “Rock Your Body.” The move was supposed to reveal a red lace bra, but the garment failed, which brought the term “wardrobe malfunction” into common use.
Although Jackson’s music sales rocketed in the weeks following her performance, the move negatively impacted her career. She was banned from that year’s Grammy Awards and blacklisted from music video and radio channels for several years.
Boyz II Men Net Worth: $200 Million
Michael McCary net worth: $20 million
Nathan Morris net worth: $60 million
Wanya Morris net worth: $60 million
Shawn Stockman net worth: $60 million
In 1998, Boyz II Men headlined a halftime show dedicated to the 50th anniversary of Motown. The show opened with a video montage of celebrities — including Whoopi Goldberg and Martha Stewart — singing along to “The Way You Do The Things You Do” before the live show began. In addition to Boyz II Men, the show included performances by The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Martha and the Vandellas, and Queen Latifah.
Pictured: Boyz II Men in 1998.
Maroon 5 Net Worth: $205 Million
Jesse Carmichael net worth: Not available
Sam Farrar net worth: Not available
Matt Flynn net worth: Not available
Adam Levine net worth: $120 million
Mickey Madden net worth: $45 million
PJ Morton net worth: Not available
James Valentine net worth: $40 million
Maroon 5 headlined 2019’s halftime show, opening up with their first-ever single, “Harder To Breathe,” followed by another early hit, “This Love.” The band — who was joined onstage by both Travis Scott and Big Boi — also sang “Sugar” and “Moves Like Jagger” during a performance that included a number of costume changes by lead singer Adam Levine.
After the performance, sales of Maroon 5’s entire catalog jumped by 488%, Billboard reported.
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Britney Spears Net Worth: $215 Million
Britney Spears has always been famous for dancing to the beat of her own drum, even back in her days as a child actor. And during the 2001 “The Kings of Rock and Pop” extravaganza at the Super Bowl XXXV halftime show, Spears showed her own style when she joined Aerosmith, ‘N Sync, Nelly and Mary J. Blige onstage.
The character Spears portrayed, Missy Who Was Ready to Play, was wearing that famous arm sock that caused a fashion commotion. Countless Spears wannabes chopped the toes off tube socks the next day and donned them on their arms, and it wasn’t long before Urban Outfitters and other fashion houses picked up the trend. The fad died out, but you can still buy arm warmers online today.
The Who Net Worth: $235 Million
Roger Daltrey net worth: $85 million
Pete Townshend net worth: $150 million
The two remaining members of The Who, Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend took the stage for a pyrotechnics-filled rock ‘n’ roll halftime show in 2010. The 12-minute performance included a number of their top hits like “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”
The performance boosted sales of the band’s “Greatest Hits” album: Sales rose to 8,000 (up 102%) the week of the Super Bowl, and the following week, they jumped to 14,000 (up 84%), Billboard reported.
Diana Ross Net Worth: $250 Million
Diana Ross is one of the few artists who actually sang live during her Super Bowl performance. The former Supreme put on a 12-minute solo show in 1996 that included nine wardrobe changes and a dramatic exit via helicopter.
Ross included two new songs in her performance — a cover of Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” and an original song, “Take Me Higher” — off her then-current “Take Me Higher” album. The album sold 3,000 units the week after the show, an increase of 74%, Billboard reported.
Justin Timberlake Net Worth: $250 Million
At the 2004 Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show, Justin Timberlake became momentarily infamous for having a hand — quite literally — in Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction.
Timberlake ascended the stage as Jackson completed “Rhythm Nation” to perform a duet of his hit “Rock Your Body,” the show’s finale. At the song’s concluding lyric, “I bet I’ll have you naked by the end of this song,” the history-making wardrobe malfunction happened.
Despite the controversy, Timberlake was invited back as a headlining performer in 2018. Donning a camouflage suit, Timberlake played a medley of his past and present hits, including “SexyBack” and “Can’t Stop the Feeling,” as well as a spirited tribute to Prince.
