Determining the musician or band who has sold the most concert tickets of all time is no easy task. Concert ticket sales records are often incomplete, especially for older acts before computerized tracking became standard. However, by examining available data on tours and estimating ticket sales, some clear leaders emerge.
The Rolling Stones
One of the top contenders for most concert tickets sold is the legendary rock band The Rolling Stones. Having formed in 1962, the English rockers have embarked on dozens of concert tours over their 60+ year career. Their longevity alone gives them an edge in total ticket sales.
While early tour records are spotty, it’s estimated The Rolling Stones have played over 2,000 shows since 1962. Their most attended tour was the A Bigger Bang Tour from 2005-2007, which played to over 4.5 million people across 147 shows.
| Rolling Stones Tour | Year | Estimated Attendance |
|---|---|---|
| A Bigger Bang Tour | 2005-2007 | 4,500,000 |
| Voodoo Lounge Tour | 1994-1995 | 3,500,000 |
| Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour | 1989-1990 | 3,000,000 |
| No Filter Tour | 2017-2022 | 2,290,000 (and counting) |
Adding up their best-attended tours puts The Rolling Stones’ total ticket sales well over 50 million. Given their many tours not tracked here, its likely their actual total is over 60 million tickets sold.
U2
Irish rock band U2 is another strong contender for the most tickets sold title. Formed in 1976, U2 gained major success and popularity in the 1980s and 1990s. Their elaborate live shows with massive stages and production values helped drive ticket sales.
U2’s most attended tour was the Vertigo Tour from 2005-2006, playing to over 4.6 million people. However, some estimates put their earlier Zoo TV and PopMart tours in the early 1990s at over 5 million attendees each. Factoring in all their major tours, U2 likely has total concert ticket sales exceeding 60 million.
| U2 Tour | Year | Estimated Attendance |
|---|---|---|
| Vertigo Tour | 2005-2006 | 4,619,021 |
| PopMart Tour | 1997-1998 | 5,000,000 (est.) |
| Zoo TV Tour | 1992-1993 | 5,300,000 (est.) |
| Joshua Tree Tour | 1987 | 3,000,000 (est.) |
Elton John
English pop legend Elton John also deserves consideration for the most concert tickets sold. Performing since the late 1960s, John is one of the most enduringly popular solo artists. He is estimated to have performed over 4,000 shows.
John’s most attended tour was the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, which began in 2018 and is still ongoing as of 2023. It has already sold over 3.1 million tickets but is expected to reach well over 4 million after completing its 300+ shows.
Adding up his major tour numbers sees Elton John’s total ticket sales surpass The Rolling Stones, with an estimated lifetime total between 60-70 million tickets sold.
| Elton John Tour | Year | Estimated Attendance |
|---|---|---|
| Farewell Yellow Brick Road | 2018-2023 | 3,100,000 (so far) |
| Lost in Music | 1995-1996 | 3,000,000 |
| Sleeping with the Past | 1989-1990 | 2,000,000 |
| Breaking Hearts | 1984 | 1,600,000 |
The Grateful Dead
Legendary jam band The Grateful Dead were pioneers in arena and stadium rock concerts in the 1970s onward. Their live improvisational style attracted a devoted following that set records for concert attendance.
It’s estimated The Grateful Dead played over 2,300 concerts from 1965 to 1995. Their Europe ’72 tour sold over 1 million tickets, while single shows on their Fare Thee Well reunion tour in 2015 sold over 400,000 tickets.
Scholars estimate total Grateful Dead concert ticket sales at north of 25 million. While below the top contenders here, it’s an impressive tally for a band that didn’t rely on radio hits or pop fame.
| Grateful Dead Tour | Year | Estimated Attendance |
|---|---|---|
| Europe ’72 | 1972 | 1,000,000 |
| Fare Thee Well Reunion | 2015 | 400,000 (5 shows) |
| Total Concerts Played | 1965-1995 | 2,300 |
Conclusion
Based on available data, it appears British pop legend Elton John has sold the most concert tickets in music history. While exact figures are impossible to confirm, estimates put Elton John’s total ticket sales between 60-70 million over his five decade career and counting.
Other top contenders like The Rolling Stones and U2 likely have total ticket sales in the 50-60 million range. Veteran acts with incredible longevity like these are most likely to hold the record for most tickets sold.
However, with Elton John’s farewell tour still ongoing and acts like BTS, Taylor Swift, and Coldplay selling out huge world tours in the modern era, the record for most concert tickets sold of all time may continue to be broken and re-broken for years to come.
