Keith Richards has ‘no idea’ how much The Rolling Stones has paid him

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Despite being in one of the most successful rock and roll bands of all time, Keith Richards has no idea how much he’s made from his work.

The Rolling Stones have enlisted Richards’ guitar magic since Mick Jagger founded the group back in 1962. But decades of work later and Richards has no idea just how much exactly he’s making from the band’s various albums, remasters, merch, and more. He doesn’t seem all that interested in knowing, either, and said as much to Mojo Magazine when he was asked about the financial positives of being in one of the biggest rock and roll bands in history.

The “bottom line” for Richards is that he gets to do what he loves, and hasn’t ever needed to care about the money. A bit of a luxurious spot to be in, but as is his right as one of the greatest guitarists to have walked on stage. He said back in 2015: “I don’t even think about it. I know I’m getting paid but as to how much… I’ve never been that interested.

“But I can say this: since I was 19, I’ve been raking it in. A lot of it has gone on lawyers! But at the same time, I’m sure everyone feels a different way about money. But the bottom line to me is the bottom line – I don’t come off stage going, “How much did I make?” It’s anti the whole point of doing it.”

Despite the band being around for decades, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Richards. Particularly, his relationship with frontman Jagger has had its highs and lows. The pair would take a break from The Rolling Stones, at which point Richards started releasing solo albums.

Richards‘ blues rock albums had him fronting The X-Pensive Winos for a tour of his album Talk is Cheap. Though The Rolling Stones had not formally split during this time, and would return with Steel Wheels just a year after Talk is Cheap, it provided some valuable but “weird” experiences for Richards.

Richards said: “It was a weird period. Looking back on it now, it was a necessary hiatus. Once we started back again, I felt stronger than I had for a long time. I had learned a lot more about being the frontman.

“In other words, I came back to the Stones with a lot more knowledge of what Mick’s job entails. And it’s quite surprisingly different, you’re out there all the time. I mean, you are nonstop. With the Stones, I can slide my time.

“But doing the Winos, while I was working the Winos singing and playing guitar too, that tightened me up a lot. And I brought a lot of knowledge and a much tighter feel when I got back to the Stones.”