There’s no Suspicious Minds, Slim Shady or Smooth Criminal without some of the world’s biggest-selling male artists. Heck, we wouldn’t even have the Moonwalk or Yeezy trainers if it weren’t for the success of these singers and rappers.
So, which male artists have raked in all the success in music? And which superstars have sold more records than you can even imagine?
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Here, we present to you the 15 best-selling male artists of all time. Check out how many singles and albums they’ve sold over the decades and what has made their musical careers become a roaring success.
15. Frank Sinatra
Sales:150 million
No. 1 Singles (Billboard):Strangers In The Night, Somethin’ Stupid
Best-Selling Album:Duets
One of the most popular entertainers of the 1940s through to the 1960s, Frank Sinatra still remains an undying legend in the music sphere until this very day. With a catalog of movie roles, too, ‘Ol’ Blue Eyes’ is among theworld’s best-selling music artistswith an estimated 150 million record sales.
Albums Success
With a career spanning over 50 years, Frank Sinatra released 59 studio albums. The majority of his albums have been successful, starting with The Voice of Frank Sinatra, released in 1946, which immediately topped the US charts.
Frank continued his reign with more albums, including Christmas and soundtrack records, with a total 42 reaching the top 10 andsixlanding at number one.
Hehas the “longest time span of charting top ten albums on the Billboard album chart” with 62 years.
Singles Success
During the infamous rock and roll era, two of Frank Sinatra’s songs made the number one spot on theBillboardHot 100 – Strangers in the Night (1966) and Somethin’ Stupid (1967). In fact, I’ll Never Smile Again, the 78rpm release became thefirst No.1 onBillboard‘s new Best-Selling Retail Records chart in 1940.
Other Ventures
Frank Sinatra enjoyed 43 years at concert residenciesin Las Vegas and helped the city become synonymous with live music. Outside of music, he was a highly successful film actor, having wonthree Academy Awardsand two Golden Globes.
14. Phil Collins
Sales:150 million
No. 1 Singles (Billboard): Against All Odds, Sussudio, One More Night, Seperate Lives, A Groovy Kind of Love, Two Hearts, Another Day in Paradise
Best-Selling Album:No Jacket Required
This British singer and drummer originated in the rock bandGenesis, but it was his solo endeavors that made him one of the top-selling male artists in the world. The pop and rock legend gained worldwide stardom in the 1980s, and is one three artists (Paul McCartney, Michael Jackson) to sell 100 million records as both a solo artist and as part of a band.
Albums Success
Phil Collins has released a total of eight studio albums that have sold 33.5 million certified units in the US. While the iconic drummer has had six UK number-one albums (Face Value, No Jacket Required & others), only two albums have peaked atop of the USBillboardHot 200including No Jacket Required and …But Seriously.
No Jacket Required is Collins’ best-selling album of his career and has been certified Diamond in the US for sales over 10 million.
Singles Success
With a total of 150million records sold worldwide, seven singles from Phil Collins’ song collection have reached the top spot on the USBillboardHot 100including Against All Odds, Separate Lives and A Groovy Kind of Love.
Other Ventures
When summing up Phil Collins’ career as part of the band Genesis as well as a solo artist, he has had more US top 40 singles than any other artist during the 1980s.
The star is also the proud owner of eightGrammy Awards, twoGolden Globe Awards and oneAcademy Award. He also has a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame.
13. Bruce Springsteen
Sales: 150 million
No. 1 Singles (US Rock):Dancing in the Dark, Brilliant Disguise, Tunnel of Love, Human Touch, Trapped
Best-Selling Album:Born in the U.S.A.
Also known as “The Boss,” Bruce Springsteen is a rock and folk legend in his own right. With a career spanning six decades, this musician has sold more than 150 million records worldwide, putting him at the 13th spot in the ranking of best-selling male artists.
Albums Success
Bruce has sold over 65 million albums in the US alone, with Born in the U.S.A.being his best-selling album. The record produced seven top 10hit singles – a record that matches Michael Jackson’sThrillerandJanet Jackson’sRhythm Nation 1814.
In total, the rockstar has an amazing 11 number one albums on the Billboard 200.
Singles Success
While Bruce Springsteen has topped the US Rock charts multiple times throughout his career, funnily enough, he has never had a number one single on the Billboard 100. His album Born in the U.S.A spawned seven top 10 hit singles, however, including Dancing in the Dark, Glory Days and I’m Goin’ Down.
Other Ventures
Bruce Springsteen has 20 Grammy Awards, twoGolden Globes, and anAcademy Award. He has also been inducted into both theSongwriters Hall of Fameand theRock and Roll Hall of Fame, and has been described by Rolling Stone as “the embodiment of rock & roll”.
12. Bruno Mars
Sales:150 million
No. 1 Singles (Billboard):Nothin’ On You, Just The Way You Are, Grenade, Locked Out Of Heaven, When I Was Your Man, That’s What I Like, Uptown Funk, Leave The Door Open
Best-Selling Album:Doo-Wops & Hooligans
Ever since he stepped into the spotlight in 2010 with his tracks Nothin’ On You and Billionaire, Bruno Mars has become one of the biggest selling male artists in the world. Renowned for his retro sound and resounding performances, this superstar is officially deemed a pop icon due to his fortunate career in music.
Albums Success
Although Bruno Mars’ debut studio album never reached number one on the Billboard 200, it did spawn three number one singles. It was his second album Unorthodox Jukebox which finally peaked at the top of the charts, selling more than three million copies globally (2014) and beingcertified six-times Platinum by theRIAA (Recording Industry Association of America).
Bruno’s next album 24K Magic earned him seven Grammy Awards, while his collaborative studio albumAn Evening with Silk Sonic awarded him four.
Singles Success
Bruno has estimated sales of more than 200 million singles worldwide. Six of these tracks are considered the best-selling singles of all time – Just the Way You Are, Grenade, The Lazy Song, When I Was Your Man, Uptown Funk and That’s What I Like.
In 2022, he also became the first artist to receive six Diamond certified songs by the RIAA.
Other Ventures
Bruno Mars has an astounding 15 Grammy Awards, four Brit Awards and 11 American Music Awards to his name. In 2011, he was named thebest selling music artist worldwide and today, he is considered the 12th most successful male artist in the world.
11. Ed Sheeran
Sales:150 million
No. 1 Singles (Billboard): Shape of You, Perfect
Best-Selling Album:X
There’s no listening to the radio without hearing British singer Ed Sheeran. Heck, you can’t even go to a wedding without hearing a romantic Ed Sheeran track as the couple’s first dance song. With 101 millionRIAA-certified units in the US, this popstar has dominated pop music with his mega hits ever since his rise to stardom in 2011.
Albums Success
A man of many talents, all seven of Ed Sheeran’s albums have reached the number-one spot in the UK Albums Chart. + (Plus)sold over 100,000 copies in its first week, while his second album×(Multiply) went to No.1 in the US and became the second-best-selling album worldwide of 2015.
Sheeran’s third studio album÷ (Divide) debuted at No. 1 in 14 countries, becoming the best-selling album worldwide of 2017, while Equals also dived straight to the top spot in the US and UK.
Singles Success
“Teddy’s” debut single, A Team had global success, reaching the top 10 in numerous countries, while future tracks including Shape of You and Castle on the Hill, broke international records by debuting in the top two spots of the charts. These tracks also made Sheeran the first artist to have two songs debut in the US top 10 in the same week.
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Divide was such a hit record, that every track reached the top 20 of the UK Singles Chart in the week of the album’s release, while Shape of You and Perfect, hit number-one in the US.
Other Ventures
This leading man has eight Billboard Awards, seven Brit Awards and four Grammys. Sheeran was dubbed the world’s best-selling artist of 2017, theGlobal Recording Artist of the Year, theOfficial Charts Company’s artist of the decade in 2019, and Spotify’s secondmost-streamed artistof the decade in that same year.
10. Justin Bieber
Sales:150 million
No. 1 Singles (Billboard): Despacito, I’m the One, What Do You Mean, Sorry, Love Yourself, Stuck With U, Peaches, Stay
Best-Selling Album:Purpose
Love him or hate him, this teen idol is as expected, one of the most successful male artists ever. Justin Bieber has been pouring out music since the age of 16, and has since been dubbed the Prince of Pop. Although involved in various controversies, there’s no escaping this young boy’s talent and incredible music.
Albums Success
There’s a reason why this guy is so popular. Bieber became the youngest solo male artist to top the Billboard 200 chart in 47 years upon the release of his firststudio album, My World 2.0. He was also the first male singer to have a Christmas album (Under the Mistletoe) debut at number-one in the US.
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The superstar’s four subsequent albums also landed at number-one in the Billboard 200 chart, with Believe topping the charts in 16 countries worldwide.
Justice made Biebs the youngest solo artist to have eight albums at number-one in the US, breaking a 56-year record held byElvis Presley.
Singles Success
It comes as no surprise that Bieber’s most famous single, Baby is one of America’s highest certified singlesof all time.
Other accomplishments include his remix for Despacito, which is one of the few singles in the world to spend the most weeks (16) at number-one in the Billboard Hot 100 and it made Bieber the first artist in history to “chart new number-one singles in consecutive weeks.”
The pop legend has accumulated four Diamondcertifications from theRIAAfor Baby, Sorry, Despacito and Stay, and overall, has had eight number-one singles in the US.
Other Ventures
All in all, Justin Bieber’s career boasts 33 Guinness World Records, twoGrammy Awards, arecord 22 MTV Europe Music Awards and 26BillboardMusic Awards.
He’s been named one of Forbes’ top 10most powerful celebrities, while his video clip for Sorry is ranked among the top 25 most popular music videos in the world.
9. Billy Joel
Sales:160 million
No. 1 Singles (Billboard): It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me, Tell Her About It, We Didn’t Start the Fire
Best-Selling Album:Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2
Pop-rock idol Billy Joel released his last successful album in 1993, and yet he remains popular enough to make it onto this list and famously regularly fill Madison Square Garden. Mainly known for his biggest tracks, Uptown Girl and The Longest Time, “The Piano Man” is categorized as the ninth top-selling male artist of all time.
Albums Success
This world renowned singer-songwriter has released a total of 13 studio albums, seven live albums, 18 compilation albums and 10video albums. Four of his albums had major success in the US.; 52nd Street being his first album to reach No.1 on theBillboard200chart, while his 1985 compilation album,Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2 is one of thebest-selling albums in the United States.
Singles Success
Out of the 82 singles he’s released, Billy Joel has had 33 top 40 hits in the US. Uptown Girl and The Longest Time may be his best-known songs, but It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me, Tell Her About It, and We Didn’t Start the Fire are the only hits that peaked at the top of theBillboardHot 100chart.
Other Ventures
“The Piano Man” has done voiceover work for theDisney filmOliver & Company, and he has also been nominated for 23Grammy Awards, winning six of them. Joel is listed in the Songwriters Hall of Fameand theRock and Roll Hall of Fame and currently frequently performs atMadison Square Garden.
8. Kanye West
Sales:160 million
No. 1 Singles (Billboard): Slow Jamz, Stronger, Gold Digger, E.T
Best-Selling Album: The College Dropout
From being one of rap’s leading legends to dabbling in fashion and expressing his outspoken views, the controversial Kanye West has undoubtedly been influential in pop culture today. The hip-hop artist has sold over 160 million records worldwide and is officially one of themost awarded artists of all time.
Albums Success
With more than 20million albums sold and a certified 25 million equivalent albums units in the US, Kanye West is among thehighest-certified music artists.
Of his 10 studio albums, nine have reached number-one. His debut album The College Dropoutpeaked at number two on the Billboard 200, while his second albumLate Registration became the ninthbest-selling album of 2005.
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Graduationwas the fastest-selling album in the US sinceLate Registration, and it broke the record for most digital albums sold in a week.
His collaboration with Jay-Z, Watch the Throne,broke the US iTunes first-week sales record, while Jesus Is Kingmade him tie withEminemas the only other artist to have nine successive studio albums debut at number-one theBillboard200.
Singles Success
“Yeezy” has sold more than 140million singles worldwide and is one of only seven artists in the US to be certified for over 100 million digital singles by theRIAA. The rapper boasts 18 top 10s, and four number-one singles including Stronger and Gold Digger.
Gold Digger spent 10 weeks at number-one on theBillboardHot 100, broke digital download records, and was the ninth biggest Hot 100 hit of the 2000s decade. West also had the mostnumber-one songson theHot Rap Songschart as the 2000s decade ended.
Other Ventures
With 24Grammy Awards under his belt, Ye is one of themost awarded artists ever. He has also won the BillboardArtist Achievement Award, while six of his albums are included onRolling Stone’s 2020500 Greatest Albums of All Timelist.
Other than music, Kanye has dabbled in many business ventures including collaborations withNike,Louis Vuitton, andAdidas.
7. Garth Brooks
Sales:170 million
No. 1 Singles (Billboard): If Tomorrow Never Comes, The Dance, Friends in Low Places, Unanswered Prayers, Two of a Kind, Workin’ on a Full House, The Thunder Rolls, Shameless, What She’s Doing Now, The River, Somewhere Other Than the Night + many more
Best-Selling Album: No Fence
Second only to the Beatles in total album sales overall, Garth Brooks is at the halfway mark as one of the most successful male singers in the world. The American singer and songwriter has gifted fans with his country music as well as rock and pop hits ever since the 1980s and is still to this day, releasing tracks and continuing his music legacy.
Albums Success
Garth Brooks has sold approximately 156million domestic units of albums, making him thebest-selling solo albums artist in the US. This places the country star ahead of Elvis Presley and second to the Beatles. He also has nine albums that achievedDiamondstatus in the US, being the only artist in history to do so.
The entertainer has released over 15 albums, most of which have peaked on both theBillboard200 and Top Country Albums charts.
Singles Success
Out of his 67 singles released since the late 80s, Garth Brooks has accumulated a staggering 19 number-one singles on the Hot Country Songs chart including If Tomorrow Never Comes, The Thunder Rolls and To Make You Feel My Love.
Other Ventures
This country legend has bagged himselftwoGrammy Awards and 17American Music Awards and even has theRIAAAward for best-selling solo albums artist of the century in the US. Garth Brooks also has a well-deserved spot in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
6. Drake
Sales:170 million
No. 1 Singles (Billboard): One Dance, God’s Plan, Nice For What, In My Feelings, Toosie Slide, What’s Next, Way 2 Sexy, Jimmy Cooks, Slime You Out, First Person Shooter
Best-Selling Album: Take Care
Jumping straight off a TV show and hopping onto the music scene in the mid-noughties, Drake has built a successful career as the sixth best-selling male artist in the world. With countless number-one albums and singles under his belt, as well as a personal life that everyone is obsessed with, this rapper is certainly a legend in his own right.
Albums Success
Drizzy hip-hopped onto the scene with three mixtapes before releasing his debut studio albumThank Me Laterwhich was his first number-one album in the US. His subsequent seven albums also peaked atop theBillboard200.
Views was the first album by a male solo star (in over a decade) to be number-one for 13 non-consecutive weeks, while Scorpion was certified Platinum on the day it was released and became the first album to be streamed over one billion times in its release week. Certified Lover Boy set the record forthe most U.S. top 10 entries from one album.
Singles Success
Rap god Drake has broken several records on the BillboardHot 100 chart including having the most top 10 placements, the most charted songs ever, and the most Hot 100 debuts in one week. He also has the most number-one singles on theHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts.
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The majority of Drake’s 141 singles (plus collaborations) have charted on the Billboard Hot 100 – all 25 tracks on his album Scorpion entered the chart, while Certified Lover Boy had nine top 10 entries.
One Dance is Drake’s most successful single of all time, peaking at number-one in 15 countries worldwide. It is also one of the most-played songson Spotify (2 billion+), helping him become the highest-certifieddigital singlesartist in the US by theRIAA.
Other Ventures
Other than music, Drizzy has succeeded as an entrepreneur having established his own OVO Soundrecord label and abourbon whiskey,Virginia Black. He has accumulated five Grammy Awards, sixAmerican Music Awards and arecord 34BillboardMusic Awards.
5. Chris Brown
Sales:217 million
No. 1 Singles (Billboard): Run It, Kiss Kiss
Best-Selling Album:Chris Brown
Chris Brown may be one of the most controversial celebrities of all time, but he’s also the fifth most successful male artist in the world. The star rose to fame at the age of 19 and quickly impressed all with his vocals and impeccable dance moves. Although Chris Brown’s bad boy behavior hits headlines now, there’s still no denying this superstar’s immense talent.
Albums Success
Since his career blossomed in 2007, Chris Brown has accumulated three number-one albums on the USBillboard200 including F.A.M.E, Fortune and Indigo. His other albums have also triumphed such as Chris Brown, which reached number two on the USBillboard200 and was certifiedDouble Platinum by the RIAA.
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Exclusivewas also certified Double Platinum, while his eighth studio album Heartbreak on a Full Moon helped Brown become the first R&B male artist to go Gold in a week since Usher’sConfessionsin 2004.
Singles Success
According to Billboard, Brown has the sixth mostHot 100entries on the Billboard chart with 116 songs.
After he dropped Run It in 2007, Brown became the first male artist since 1997 to have his debut single top the chart, where it spent a month at. Say Goodbye, Turn Up the Music and Don’t Wake Me Up also became US top 10 singles.
Yeah 3x peaked within the top 10 in many countries around the world, while Billboard reports that Go Crazy spent28 weeks at No. 1, breaking the record for the longest running No. 1 song onBillboard’sR&B/Hip-Hop Airplaychart.
Other Ventures
Other than singing and dancing, Chris Brown has dabbled in acting, starring in movies Stomp the Yard and Takers. The singer has taken home a Grammy for Best R&B Album (F.A.M.E), 19BET Awards, fourBillboardMusic Awards, and 14 Soul Train Music Awards.
4. Eminem
Sales:220 million
No. 1 Singles (Billboard): Lose Yourself, Crack a Bottle, Not Afraid, Love the Way You Lie, The Monster
Best-Selling Album: The Marshall Mathers LP
Even if you live under a rock, you’re probably aware of Eminem, critically acclaimed as one of the greatest rappers of all time. While he stands at fourth place on this list, Eminem is actually the best-selling hip-hop artist of all-time. The legendary rapper was also dubbed thebest-selling music artist in the USof the 2000s.
Albums Success
As the best-selling music artist in the USof the 2000s, Eminem sold over 32.2 million albums during this decade. He has 10 number-one albums on theBillboard200, which all consecutively debuted at the top of the charts, making him the only artist to ever do so.
Eminem’s first album to peak atop of the charts, The Marshall Mathers LP broke the record as the fastest-selling hip-hop album of all-time and fastest-selling solo album in the US.
It has been certified Diamond alongside The Eminem Show, which was an international success in 2002, selling over 19 million copies worldwide. His seventh album Recoverywas also the best-selling album worldwide in 2010.
Singles Success
Eminem has hadfive number-one singles on theBillboardHot 100 including Lose Yourself and Love the Way You Lie. The former, made Eminem the first ever hip-hop artist to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song, and it also remained on the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 weeks.
Lose Yourself has been certified Diamond alongside Love the Way You Lie and Not Afraid. The latter made Eminem the first artist with two digital Diamond awards by RIAA. When The Monster became Eminem’s fifth No.1 single, he joined rappers Ludacris andP. Diddyfor rappers with the most No.1 singles in the US.
Slim Shady was also named the most-streamed artist of all time onSpotify in 2014.
Other Ventures
Marshall Mathers is also an actor, having starred in movies 8 Mile, Funny PeopleandThe Interview. He has established Shady Records, his own channel,Shade 45; and Billboardeven named him the “Artist of the Decade (2000–2009).
Overall, Eminem currently holds15Grammy Awards, eightAmerican Music Awards and 17BillboardMusic Awards.
3. Elton John
Sales:300 million
No. 1 Singles (Billboard): Crocodile Rock, Bennie and the Jets, Whatever Gets You thru the Night, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Philadelphia Freedom, Island Girl, Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, That’s What Friends Are For, Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me + many more
Best-Selling Album: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
British singer, songwriter and pianist Elton John is the third highest-selling male artist in the world, having sold over 300 million records worldwide and having the best-selling chart single inBillboardhistory. He has established a famous and fruitful music career ever since his rise to stardom in the 1960s.
Albums Success
Not only has this musical legendsold more than 200 million albums worldwide, he has also had seven consecutive number-one albums in the US – the first artist to ever do so.
Goodbye Yellow Brick Roadand Elton John’s Greatest Hits are among the best-selling albums worldwide. The former is his biggest-selling album, which sold more than 30 million copies worldwide, was certified Diamondby theRIAA, and was number-one for two months.
John’s famed soundtrack forThe Lion Kingremained at the top of theBillboard200for nine weeks and has been certified Diamond for selling 15million copies.
Singles Success
Elton John hassold over 100 million singles worldwide and boasts a whopping 57 top 40 hits in the USBillboardHot 100, including nine number-one tracks.
He has the best-selling chart single of all time – Candle in the Wind 1997, which was a tribute song for PrincessDiana, selling over 33million copies worldwide.
John’s additional highest-charting single was That’s What Friends Are For, while his Lion King soundtrack Can You Feel the Love Tonight won both theAcademy Award for Best Original Song (1995) and theGrammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance (1995).
Other Ventures
John has fiveGrammy Awards, twoAcademy Awards, twoGolden Globes and several more gongs in his roster. He has famously composed music for The Lion King, AidaandBilly Elliot the Musical, and was even knightedby QueenElizabeth IIfor “services to music and charitable services.”
Also known as The Rocket Man, Elton has been named the most successful male solo artist on theBillboardHot 100 Top All-Time Artists, and third overall, behindthe BeatlesandMadonna.
2. Michael Jackson
Sales:400 million
No. 1 Singles (Billboard): Ben, Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough, Rock with You, Billie Jean, Beat It, Say Say Say, I Just Can’t Stop Loving You, Bad, The Way You Make Me Feel, Man in the Mirror, Dirty Diana, Black or White, You Are Not Alone
Best-Selling Album: Thriller
There’s no surprise that the King of Pop comes second as the world’s most successful male artist. He is one of the most significant and well-recognized pop culture figures ever, after all. Michael Jackson hasn’t just sold over 400 million records worldwide, he has also influenced various fields such as dance, fashion and philanthropy, and is officially the most awarded music artistin history.
Albums Success
The King of Pop reigns when it comes to album sales. His sixth album, Thriller is officially the world’s best-selling album of all time, selling around 70 millioncopies.
Topping several international charts, Thriller was also the first album to have sevenHot 100 top 10 singles, including Billie Jean and Beat It. Further accomplishments include Bad, MJ’s seventh studio album, which became the first album to top the charts in 25 countries.
His compilation album, Number Ones was released following his death and also became one of the best-selling albums worldwide.
Singles Success
Michael Jackson is the only artist to have 13number-one singles on the BillboardHot 100. His first No.1 was Ben in 1972, but it was his later tracks that became mega-successes, not only in the US, but internationally, too.
Billie Jean was number-one in 13 countries, while Thriller only peaked at number four on theBillboardHot 100. However, it sold seven million copies in the US alone, making it MJ’s best-selling single ever.
I Just Can’t Stop Loving You, Bad, The Way You Make Me Feel, Man in the Mirror, and Dirty Diana all reached No.1 in the US, breaking a record for the most number-one singles from one album (Bad). MJ’s famous ballad, You Are Not Alone holds theGuinness World Recordfor the first ever song to debut at number-one on theHot 100.
Other Ventures
As the most awarded artist in history, Jackson has 15Grammy Awards, aGolden Globe Award, and 39Guinness World Records, including the “Most Successful Entertainer of All Time.”
He has also been listed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, theSongwriters Hall of Fame and theDance Hall of Fame– being the the only recording artist to do so.
1. Elvis Presley
Sales:500 million
No. 1 Singles (Billboard): Heartbreak Hotel, I Want You, I Need You, I Love You, Don’t Be Cruel, Hound Dog, Love Me Tender, Too Much, All Shook Up, Teddy Bear, Jailhouse Rock, Don’t, Hard Headed Woman, A Big Hunk o’ Love, Stuck on You + many more
Best-Selling Album:Elvis’ Christmas Album
The man, the myth, the legend, Elvis Presley is officially the number-one best-selling male artist of all time. With decades of classic singles, iconic albums, and multiple films, the King of Rock and Roll is the most significant icon and musical force of the 20th century, and has paved the way for several musicians throughout modern history.
Albums Success
This celebrated artist has sold more than 146 million certified albums in the US. He has the mostRIAAcertifiedGoldand Platinum albums, as well as the most albums charted on theBillboard200.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Presley sells more than one million albums per year, even decades after his death.
Elvis’ self-titled debut album, Elvis Presley was the first ever rock and roll album to peak atop of the Billboardchart, a position it held for 10 weeks. Elvis’ Christmas Album is also thebest-selling Christmas album ever in America, with eventual sales of over 20 million worldwide.
Singles Success
Elvis Presley has a whopping 149 songs that have appeared on Billboard Hot 100 Pop Chart. 114 reached the top 40, and 18 songs went to number-one, totaling 80 weeks at the top of the charts.
The King of Rock and Roll boasts54 singles certified by the RIAA with 50 million in sales. Heartbreak Hotel was his first number-one in the US, followed by further successful singles in the 1950s like Hound Dog,Jailhouse Rock and Hard Headed Woman.
Following his military service in the late 50s, Elvis returned to music in the 60s with the No.1 track Stuck on You, and its follow-up single, It’s Now or Never, which was another worldwide hit, peaking no lower than No. 2 in 13 countries.
Before his untimely death in the 70s, the music legend continued reigning the charts with No. 1 hits, Are You Lonesome Tonight, Surrender, and more successful soundtrack singles such as Can’t Help Falling in Love and Kissin’ Cousins.
Other Ventures
Other than being the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis also made his mark in Hollywood by starring in 31 feature films as an actor and two theatrically released concert documentary films. He has threeGrammy Awards, received theGrammy Lifetime Achievement Award,and has been inducted intomultiple music halls of fame.
With the likes of popular newbies like Harry Styles and Shawn Mendes capturing the hearts of many and selling millions of records across the globe, it’s only expected that they soon might take out some of the artists on this list.
Will Elvis always be the King of Rock and Roll and the king of the best-selling male artists? Is Eminem always going to be the leading male rapper worldwide?
Let us know who you think deserves their spot on this list by leaving a comment in the section below…
Data derived from Claimed Sales and Discography stats via Wikipedia.
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