The 2023-2025 tour has become the biggest tour of Springsteen’s career. It is also the 6th highest-grossing tour of all time as of 2025. Congratulations to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
Just reported by Billboard, the 2023-2025 tour has become Springsteen’s biggest tour of his career. It is also the 6th highest grossing tour of all time as of 2025.
The international tour concluded on July 3, 2025, and according to reporting by Billboard, has earned the Boss over $700 million, making it the most lucrative tour of his entire career. (Springsteen’s previous record was with his 2012-2013 Wrecking Ball tour, which earned him $347 million.)
With a grand total earning of $729.7 million, Springsteen’s most recent tour is also one of the highest-grossing in all of music history, alongside the likes of Taylor Swift, Elton John, Ed Sheeran and U2.
Additionally, it was the longest tour of Springsteen’s career with 129 concerts, as well as his most successful in terms of ticket sales with 4.9 million tickets sold over the course of approximately two years.
Billboard‘s reporting does note that Springsteen’s ticket prices increased 29% from his 2016 The River tour to now, but that increase is “well below the typical uptick for other arena and stadium acts, legacy or contemporary.”
Is Bruce Springsteen a Billionaire?
Back in August of 2024, Forbes magazine reported that Springsteen had crossed the 10-figure mark, writing: “Despite his discomfort with the trappings of wealth, the Garden State’s original guitar hero has amassed a substantial fortune over six decades – which Forbes conservatively estimates to be worth $1.1 billion – singing about his blue-collar roots.”
A few months later, Springsteen addressed the matter.
“I’m not a billionaire,” he said. “I wish I was, but they got that real wrong. I’ve spent too much money on superfluous things.”
With the recent tour calculations, Springsteen may have gotten his wish.
30 of the Highest-Grossing Rock Tours Ever
Touring is expensive, but it sure can be lucrative, too.
Gallery Credit: Allison Rapp
U2, The Joshua Tree Tour: $40 Million
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U2, The Joshua Tree Tour: $40 Million
This may be difficult to believe now, but there was once a time when U2’s tours were relatively low-key affairs. That began to change in 1987 when the band embarked on The Joshua Tree Tour, playing larger venues than before with more involved production. Both the tour and the album it was named for were fabulous successes for U2, with the trek bringing in $40 million. U2 would later recall this period of their career as somewhat stressful, given that they were not yet accustomed to such an intense level of notoriety.
The Rolling Stones, American Tour 1981: $50 Million
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The Rolling Stones, American Tour 1981: $50 Million
Get ready for a whole lot of Rolling Stones in this list — the British bad boys have been raking in tour cash for decades. Their 1981 tour of America brought them $50 million, which might not sound like an awful lot, but that equates to a little over 170 million in 2024 dollars. With an average ticket price of $16, it wound up becoming the largest-grossing tour of 1981 and it held the record for several years after. “[T]icket requests for these shows ran into the millions,” The New York Times reported then.
Tina Turner, Break Every Rule World Tour: $60 Million
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Tina Turner, Break Every Rule World Tour: $60 Million
Turns out, Break Every Rule was an apt title for Tina Turner’s 1987-88 world trek. It broke box office records in 13 different countries and became the third highest-grossing tour by a female artist in North America in 1987, as well as the highest-grossing female tour of the ’80s. Not to mention, her concert in Rio de Janeiro remains, to date, the largest paying concert audience by a female artist with 180,000 attendees. (That show was later released on video, titled Tina Live in Rio ’88.)
Genesis, Invisible Touch Tour: $60 Million
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Genesis, Invisible Touch Tour: $60 Million
To give you a sense of just how well Genesis’ 1986-87 Invisible Touch Tour was, it was reported that they were earning $300,000 a night in America. In total, the worldwide, 10-month tour raked in $60 million, but even then, singer Phil Collins wasn’t all that concerned about a giant paycheck, his biggest concern being taxes. “I’ve got money, but I still live like I haven’t,” he told a journalist in 1987. “I work so that I can enjoy money and don’t have to think about it.”
David Bowie, Glass Spider Tour: $86 Million
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David Bowie, Glass Spider Tour: $86 Million
The irony of David Bowie’s 1987 album Never Let Me Down is that despite reaching No. 6 in the U.K., it was not very well-received by fans and critics, who felt the production was over the top, and not in a good way. Perhaps even more ironically, the accompanying Glass Spider Tour was received similarly, once again earning impressive numbers but garnering criticism for being too theatrical and not focusing enough on the music. “I’m going to do a stage thing this year, which I’m incredibly excited about, ’cause I’m gonna take a chance again,” is how Bowie described it at the time. Still, the outing yielded $86 million, so clearly the Starman was doing something right.
Bruce Springsteen, Born in the U.S.A. Tour: $90 Million
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Bruce Springsteen, Born in the U.S.A. Tour: $90 Million
Bruce Springsteen has always been known for his long, high-energy concerts, and his 1984-85 Born in the U.S.A. Tour was no different. The biggest changes for this trek were that guitarist Steven Van Zandt had left the group to pursue some solo work, leading Nils Logfren to fill his shoes, and a new band member arrived in the form of Patti Scialfa. Over the course of 156 shows, Springsteen and the E Street Band brought in $90 million, much of which came from 1985 summer stadium dates in North America. Also of note: the music video for “Dancing in the Dark” was filmed at the tour’s first stop in Saint Paul, Minnesota, featuring actress Courteney Cox.
Tina Turner, Wildest Dreams Tour: $130 Million
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Tina Turner, Wildest Dreams Tour: $130 Million
Okay, here’s where some really big numbers start rolling in.Tina Turner broke her own record with her 1997-98 Wildest Dreams Tour, which included over 250 shows in Europe, North America and Australasia, surpassing her Break Every Rule World Tour and bringing in over double the money ($130 million). “When I walk on stage, there’s such a feeling of faces looking back at me with love and admiration,” Turner told Jet magazine in 1997. “[And] it turns into a togetherness. It really is about a desire from the people. The last tour I actually announced to my audience that I would be back. It was only because of that feeling, because that’s the kind of audience I have.”
Pink Floyd, A Momentary Lapse of Reason Tour: $135 Million
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Pink Floyd, A Momentary Lapse of Reason Tour: $135 Million
Coming in at $135 million we have the highest-grossing tour of the entire 1980s: Pink Floyd’s A Momentary Lapse of Reason Tour and its sister Another Lapse Tour. This 1987-89 trek was most notable for being the band’s first without Roger Waters, who had left the group in 1985. Guy Pratt assumed his duties, but evidently the lack of original bassist didn’t hinder the tour’s success. It was also historic for being the first time Pink Floyd played the Soviet Union, Norway, Spain and New Zealand.
U2, Zoo TV Tour: $151 Million
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U2, Zoo TV Tour: $151 Million
If there is one phrase that might best describe U2’s 1992-93 Zoo TV Tour it might be “sensory overload.” Featuring dozens of TV screens, prank calls, live satellite transmissions and various other multimedia aspects, this tour was nothing short of a spectacle. It understandably puzzled some critics — as one Hot Press writer put it “U2 don’t so much use every trick in the book as invent a whole new style of rock performance art” — but the numbers spoke for themselves: after five legs (157 shows total), the gross income came to $151 million and was also the highest-grossing North American tour of 1992.
Eagles, Hell Freezes Over Tour: $152 Million
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Eagles, Hell Freezes Over Tour: $152 Million
It was Don Henley who once famously said that Eagles would play together again “when Hell freezes over.” Turns out a lot of people were looking forward to that day because when it finally came around, the 1994-96 Hell Freezes Over Tour raked in just a little over $152 million. Over those years, the band played 160 shows across the world. “It’s a relief,” Glenn Frey said prior to the very first show of the tour. “You know, we’ve been rehearsing for so long and we’ve been playing for men who don’t clap: our crew. So it’s like, now we got paying customers.”
U2, PopMart Tour: $173 Million
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U2, PopMart Tour: $173 Million
Just when you thought U2 couldn’t possibly create a more grandiose show, they did so with their 1997-98 PopMart Tour. This one had a 165-foot-wide LED screen, a 100-foot-high golden arch and, for good measure, a large mirror-ball lemon. The band’s stage architect, Mark Fisher, put it best in 1999: “U2 is definitely not frightened to try anything.” All of that equipment — which did yield some messy technical difficulties at times — paid off in the form of a gross income of just over $173 million.
The Rolling Stones, Steel Wheels / Urban Jungle Tours: $175 Million
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The Rolling Stones, Steel Wheels / Urban Jungle Tours: $175 Million
Depending on how you look at it, this might be considered two separate tours since they were given two separate titles, but we’re counting the Rolling Stones’ Steel Wheels / Urban Jungle Tours in 1989-90 as one. The North American and Japanese portion of the trek was named Steel Wheels, and the European leg dubbed Urban Jungle, but when you tally up all the numbers, the combined 115 shows made a whopping $175 million. Remember Mark Fisher? The man who designed U2’s PopMart Tour? He also designed the stage for this Stones tour, with input from Charlie Watts and Mick Jagger.
Bruce Springsteen, Magic Tour: $235 Million
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Bruce Springsteen, Magic Tour: $235 Million
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band hold the No. 10 slot on the list of highest-grossing tours of the 2010s, with an impressive $235 million from their 2007-2008 Magic Tour. At one point, rumors swirled that this might be a farewell tour, but the Boss swiftly shot that down. “I envision the band carrying on for many, many, many more years. There ain’t gonna be any farewell tour,” he said then. “I’ll never do that, man — you’re only gonna know that when you don’t see me no more.”
Cher, Living Proof, The Farewell Tour: $250 Million
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Cher, Living Proof, The Farewell Tour: $250 Million
When Cher originally set out on her Living Proof: The Farewell Tour in 2002, the plan was for it to run for 59 shows across North America. But it wound up being so popular that the singer decided to extend it for another 100 shows in North America, which lasted until 2004. And then the trek was brought to Europe, Oceania and Asia for even more performances. The tour finally concluded in 2005 with a grand total gross income of $250 million. (Also, it turned out not to be Cher’s final tour — she went back on the road in 2014 and 2018.)
Pink Floyd, The Division Bell Tour: $250 Million
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Pink Floyd, The Division Bell Tour: $250 Million
Like their Lapse of Reason Tour, Roger Waters was not a part of Pink Floyd’s 1994 journey, The Division Bell Tour, which once again saw Guy Pratt playing bass. This tour was even bigger than their last, earning an incredible $250 million. Pink Floyd once again enlisted the help of stage designer Mark Fisher, whose first project with them had been designing the inflatables for the band’s American Animals tour in 1977. Following The Division Bell Tour, Pink Floyd parted ways and never toured together again.
The Rolling Stones, Bridges to Babylon Tour: $274 Million
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The Rolling Stones, Bridges to Babylon Tour: $274 Million
Judging by the amount of money the Bridges to Babylon Tour made — $274 million over the course of 1997-98 — you’d never guess that the Stones were barely on speaking terms for the making of its associated album. Among the opening acts for this trek: Foo Fighters, Sheryl Crow, the Wallflowers, Pearl Jam, Santana, Third Eye Blind and even Bob Dylan, plus several others. At each show, the evening began with a large screen and fireworks, followed by the emergence of Keith Richards playing the riff to “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.”
The Rolling Stones, Licks Tour: $311 Million
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The Rolling Stones, Licks Tour: $311 Million
We’re not even close to being done with the Rolling Stones on this list. In support of their 40th anniversary compilation album Forty Licks, the band went out on a massive worldwide Licks Tour, which, at $311 million, became the second highest-grossing tour ever at that time. (Openers included Elvis Costello, the Pretenders, the White Stripes, John Mellencamp and more.) You’ll have to scroll ahead to the next entry to see who beat them for the No. 1 spot…
The Rolling Stones, Voodoo Lounge Tour: $320 Million
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The Rolling Stones, Voodoo Lounge Tour: $320 Million
Yeah, the Stones were beat out only by themselves. Their 1994-95 Voodoo Lounge Tour amassed $320 million and attracted 6.5 million fans. “There were lots of hacks out there who said we couldn’t do it anymore,” Mick Jagger told Rolling Stone back then. “But maybe what they meant was they couldn’t do it anymore. Anyway, once we started playing, all that died down. You can talk about it and talk about it – but, once we’re onstage, the question is answered.”
The Police, The Police Reunion Tour: $358 Million
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The Police, The Police Reunion Tour: $358 Million
By the time the Police reconvened on stage in 2007 for their reunion tour, it had been just over two decades since their breakup. So it makes sense that hoards of fans were eager to see the trio come back together. Over the course of 2007 and 2008, the Police played 152 shows, many of which saw tickets selling out within minutes of going up for sale. At the end of it, the gross income came to around $350 million, which, at that point, was the third highest-grossing tour of all time.
Bruce Springsteen, 2023 Tour: $379 Million
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Bruce Springsteen, 2023 Tour: $379 Million
Bruce Springsteen simply refuses to slow down. He began a global tour in 2023 — his first with the E Street Band in six years — that grew to one of the biggest of all time at $379 million, even in spite of band member illnesses and postponed dates. And that’s just the beginning — by the time the tour concludes in 2025, it’s safe to assume this number will be a lot higher.
U2, Vertigo Tour: $389 Million
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U2, Vertigo Tour: $389 Million
In support of their 2004 album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, U2 performed all around the world in the following two years on their Vertigo Tour. In 2005, it boasted 110 sold-out concerts (plus multiple honors from the Billboard Roadwork Touring Awards) and was the top-grossing tour of the year. At its conclusion, it sold a little over four and a half million tickets from its 131 shows and earned a total of $389 million, at that point the second-highest-grossing concert tour ever.
U2, The Joshua Tree Tours 2017 and 2019: $390 Million
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U2, The Joshua Tree Tours 2017 and 2019: $390 Million
Don’t be fooled by the separated years 2017 and 2019 — U2’s most recent The Joshua Tree Tours were one, long journey. It marked the first time the band played in South Korea, Singapore, the Philippines and India, plus the first time they performed a tour in support of an album from their back catalog. (The original idea had been to do one-off shows in the U.S. and Europe to celebrate the LP’s 30th anniversary.) Clearly, the fans were into that idea, because by the end of the trek, they’d sold 3.3 million tickets and made a bit over $390 million.
Metallica, WorldWired Tour: $430 Million
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Metallica, WorldWired Tour: $430 Million
By the time Metallica launched their 2016-19 WorldWired Tour, it had been six years since their last trek. One notable aspect of the tour that Kirk Hammett and Rob Trujillo introduced during the 2017 shows was covers of songs by artists from the region in which Metallica was playing. “It’s a way for Kirk and I to show honor and respect to some of the songwriters in the bands from that particular area,” Trujillo told Rolling Stone in 2018. “When you get into [places like] Omaha, Nebraska, it’s really a lot of fun.” When all was said and done, the WorldWired Tour brought in $430 million.
AC/DC, Black Ice World Tour: $441 Million
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AC/DC, Black Ice World Tour: $441 Million
When AC/DC released 2008’s Black Ice, their first LP of original music since 2000, it called for a giant global tour: 8 legs of shows that lasted nearly two years. “It never gets boring,” singer Brian Johnson said then. “They’re just the best rock band – and, just to listen to them every night, it gets me. Every time they kick in, you think, ‘What the fuck?!’ You’re on again and you’re thinking, ‘This is ridiculous! I’m still grooving!'” After playing to roughly 4.9 million people, the Black Ice World Tour’s total income came to $441 million.
Roger Waters, The Wall Live: $459 Million
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Roger Waters, The Wall Live: $459 Million
Back in 1990, Roger Waters performed the entirety of Pink Floyd’s The Wall at a concert in Berlin, Germany. He reprised the spectacle in 2010, launching an entire tour titled The Wall Live, which included 219 shows in total. David Gilmour and Nick Mason made exactly one guest appearance at Waters’ concert in London on May 12, 2011. In 2013, the year the tour ended, it held the record for highest-grossing tour for a solo musician. To date, it holds the No. 13 spot for highest-grossing tour of all-time at $459 million.
The Rolling Stones, No Filter Tour: $546 Million
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The Rolling Stones, No Filter Tour: $546 Million
We have now reached the point where every tour entry moving forward is, at the time of this writing in 2024, one of the top 10 highest-grossing tours ever. Holding the No. 10 spot is — you guessed it — the Rolling Stones with their 2017-21 No Filter Tour. This trek was not without its complications and obstacles. For one thing, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the cancelation or postponement of several shows, but more importantly, it was in the summer of 2021 that drummer Charlie Watts passed away. Steve Jordan entered the picture to fill in for the remaining tour dates, but the Stones would never be the same. Even so, the No Filter Tour grossed $546 million.
The Rolling Stones, A Bigger Bang Tour: $558 Million
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The Rolling Stones, A Bigger Bang Tour: $558 Million
We promise this is the last Rolling Stones entry on this list. To date, their single most successful outing was the 2005-2007 A Bigger Bang Tour, which brought in an incredible $558 million. Highlights included a two-night engagement at the Beacon Theatre in New York City, which was filmed by Martin Scorsese for Shine a Light, not to mention a halftime performance at Super Bowl XL. To give you a sense of how intense the shows were, the opening night concert at Fenway Park in Boston caused so much damage to the outfield that much of it had to be re-sod and an upcoming baseball game was postponed so that all the repairs could be made.
Guns N Roses, Not in This Lifetime…Tour: $584 Million
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Guns N’ Roses, Not in This Lifetime…Tour: $584 Million
In 2016, for the first time since 1993, the classic lineup members of Guns N’ Roses Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan hit the road for the Not in This Lifetime…Tour. They played 175 shows across every single continent except Antarctica, which brought in $584 million, making it the seventh high-grossing tour of all-time as of 2024. Opening acts included Alice in Chains, Lenny Kravitz, Deftones, ZZ Top and more, plus guest appearances by the likes of Dave Grohl, Sebastian Bach and Angus Young.
U2, 360 Degree Tour: $736 Million
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U2, 360 Degree Tour: $736 Million
Many have tried to outdo U2, few have succeeded. And there was not dimming U2’s light from 2009-11 when they went on the 360 Degree Tour. This trek saw the band performing in a circular, “in the round” space and an enormous four-legged structure dubbed “The Claw” which had a video screen atop it. At that point in time, it was the largest stage structure ever built for a tour and over the course of two years, it helped the band sell out every single date of their tour. As of 2024, it is the fifth highest-grossing tour ever.
Elton John, Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour: $939 Million
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Elton John, Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour: $939 Million
To be fair, Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour spanned nearly five years (2018-23) and 300 concerts, so there was more time to sell more tickets, but nevertheless, he holds the record for the second highest-grossing tour of all-time with a grand total of $939 million (beat out only by Taylor Swift). “Ten years ago if you asked me if I would stop touring I would have said no,” John said in 2018. “But we had children and that changed our lives. I have had an amazing life and career but my life has changed. My priorities are now my children and my husband and my family.”
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