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Ranking The Richest Backstreet Boy Members - Who Tops The List?

When it comes to iconic boy bands that have left an indelible mark on the music industry, the Backstreet Boys stand tall among the rest. Formed in 1993, this American boy band quickly rose to international fame and became a cultural phenomenon during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Let's take a closer look at the richest Backstreet Boy members and how they've achieved prosperity beyond the stage.

Author:James Pierce
Reviewer:Emily Sanchez
Sep 14, 2023938 Shares62.5K Views
The Backstreet Boys, a quintessential boy band that captured the hearts of millions worldwide, not only left an indelible mark on the music industry but also achieved remarkable success beyond the stage. Comprising five talented members, each with their own unique strengths and contributions, the group's journey from humble beginnings to international stardom is a story of dedication, passion, and innovation. In this article, we delve into the lives and accomplishments of the richest Backstreet Boy members, highlighting their endeavors that have led to financial prosperity. Beyond their musical achievements, some Backstreet Boy members have managed to amass significant wealth through their diverse pursuits.

Brian Littrell - $45 Million

Brian Littrell wearing a black leather jacket
Brian Littrell wearing a black leather jacket
Brian Littrell, an American vocalist and songwriter, possesses a net worth of $45 million. His prominence primarily arises from his involvement as a member of the all-male vocal ensemble, the Backstreet Boys. The Backstreet Boys garnered immense fame throughout the 1990s and the early 2000s, significantly bolstering Littrell's present net worth. Nevertheless, Brian has also achieved individual triumphs as a solo performer, independent of his contributions to the Backstreet Boys. In 2006, he introduced his solo album titled "Welcome Home," marking a notable milestone in his personal musical journey.
Brian Thomas Littrell was born in Lexington, Kentucky, on February 20, 1975. His father worked for IBM, and his mother was a secretary at a dentist's office. Brian grew up in a Baptist home, and he was very good at sports when he was young. He also got very into music and joined youth bands and choruses. At 16 years old, a teacher persuaded him to sing at social events to make a little extra money. Littrell also took part in a number of school shows when he was in high school. He also started working at Long John Silver's.
Brian tried out for the Backstreet Boys, which was a new singing group. He got a spot in the group, and right away they started having hits like "We've Got It Goin' On" and "Quit Playing Games With My Heart." The Backstreet Boys kept putting out hugely popular records and songs like "Backstreet's Back" and "I Want It That Way." In the end, they sold more than 100 million records around the world, including two albums that were recognized as diamond. Lou Pearlman had hidden the group's real earnings, so Brian led the group in a case against him.
Brian went on to try a solo career, putting out the Christian pop record "Welcome Home" in 2005. It did well on the Christian charts and sold more than 100,000 copies. Littrell is still a part of the Backstreet Boys, though.

Howie Dorough - $40 Million

Howie Dorough wearing a denim blue polo
Howie Dorough wearing a denim blue polo
Howie Dorough, an American musician, possesses a net worth of $40 million. He is most recognized as a co-founder and a member of the pop vocal ensemble, the Backstreet Boys. This globally acclaimed group holds the distinction of being the highest-selling boy band worldwide, with a staggering record of over 100 million albums sold across the globe. Apart from his affiliation with the Backstreet Boys, Dorough has also cultivated an individual career as a solo artist.
Puerto Rican mother Paula, a school teacher, and Irish-American father Hoke, a police officer and real estate entrepreneur, had Howie Dorough on August 22, 1973, in Orlando, Florida. Dorough became interested in entertainment as a child, performing in his church choir and "The Wizard of Oz." He appeared in many children's community theater plays, including "The Sound of Music" and "Camelot."
In the early 1990s, Dorough met Orlando native AJ McLean through a vocal coach. The pair formed a music group with Nick Carter. Between 1992 and 1993, Dorough, McLean, Carter, cousins Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson, and record producer Lou Pearlman responded to an Orlando Sentinel ad seeking a New Kids on the Block-like vocal group. The five were chosen from hundreds of teenage artists and called the Backstreet Boys after Orlando's Backstreet Market. The Backstreet Boys' self-titled debut album, released two years later, was a global hit, especially in Europe. In 1997, "Backstreet's Back" was re-released in the US as "Backstreet Boys." Like the first album, it was a global hit.
The third album "Millennium." was Backstreet Boys' biggest commercial smash in 1999. The album, which included the hits "I Want It That Way," "Larger Than Life," "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely," and "The One," was one of the best-selling albums ever and received five Grammy nominations. Backstreet Boys' insanely successful Into the Millennium Tour supported the album. Another enormous smash, "Black & Blue" produced "Shape of My Heart," "The Call," and "More Than That."
Dorough launched his solo debut, "Back to Me," in 2011. The singles "100" and "Lie to Me." The following year, Dorough published "Live from Toronto." The next album, "Which One Am I," was released in 2019, including singles "No Hablo EspaƱol," "The Me I'm Meant to Be," and "Monsters in My Head."
After becoming famous with the Backstreet Boys, Dorough appeared more in movies and TV. The late 1990s saw him on "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" and "Saturday Night Live." Returning to "Sabrina" in the early 2000s, he appeared on "Roswell," "Arthur," and "Sesame Street." Dorough also starred in the 2013 apocalyptic comedy "This is the End," alongside the Backstreet Boys, and in the 2016 zombie TV film "Dead 7," costarring Nick Carter and AJ McLean.
Dorough and vocalist CJ Huyer founded HC Entertainment in 2004. He produced Katelyn Tarver and George Nozuka through the firm. Dorough then founded 3 Street Management to manage the Canadian band Neverest.

Kevin Richardson - $40 Million

Kevin Richardson wearing a black coat
Kevin Richardson wearing a black coat
Kevin Richardson, an American vocalist, model, and actor, possesses a net worth of $40 million. Richardson's most recognizable accomplishments stem from his contributions to the immensely renowned vocal ensemble, Backstreet Boys. While the Backstreet Boys attained their zenith during the 1990s and the latter part of the 2000s, they sustained their collaborative performances even through the contemporary era.
Lexington, Kentucky, birthed Kevin Scott Richardson on October 3, 1971. Kevin was raised on a 10-acre farm by a housewife and outdoorsman with two elder brothers. Richardson left his farm at age nine to live in a log cabin at his father's church youth camp. Kevin met his best friend Keith and became a camp counselor at this camp. Later in life, Keith sang.
Richardson was comfortable in nature from a young age. He started riding horses at four and loved them through high school. During this time, he played baseball and football. He captained his high school football squad.
Everything changed for Kevin Richardson in March 1993. He initially heard of Lou Pearlman and the Backstreet Boys. The group accepted Richardson after his tryout. Kevin called his first cousin Brian Littrell, who auditioned and was accepted, as the group was still missing one member. The Backstreet Boys' oldest member is Richardson.
Jive Records signed the band for $60 million in 1999. Kevin performed with the group until 2006 when he left for other pursuits. He also wanted a family. He had recorded five albums with the group over 13 years. The Backstreet Boys made a name for themselves with classics including "Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)," "I Want it That Way," "Larger than Life," and "The One."
Their 100 million recordings made them the best-selling boy band ever. They have two diamond albums, joining a limited group of bands. This success boosted Kevin Richardson's wealth.
Richardson quit the Backstreet Boys in 2006, although he performed with them in Los Angeles in 2008. In 2010, the band appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" together. Multiple stage and TV appearances continued until 2011. After much speculation, Richardson returned to the group permanently. So he left the group after nearly two years.
However, Kevin has pursued solo projects outside of the Backstreet Boys. He wrote the soundtrack for "The Spirit Bear," and he headlined a 2011 Los Angeles Christmas event. He started his debut solo album in 2012, however, it was postponed. He has considered releasing a cover song album called "Cover Story." One track from his "Cover Story" album was released in 2015.
Kevin Richardson has pursued entertainment ventures outside of music. Richardson, along with the Backstreet Boys, has been on "Sesame Street" and "Sabrina the Teenage Witch." He appears in "This is the End." Kevin played Billy Flynn in "Chicago." on Broadway in 2003, reigniting his acting career. He recreated this character in a 2006 "Chicago" performance. Richardson reprised the role in theatrical tours in Japan and Louisville, Kentucky. Richardson modeled for Versace and TAG Heuer. He modeled for Vogue.

Nick Carter - $35 Million

Nick Carter wearing a black sweater
Nick Carter wearing a black sweater
Nick Carter, an American vocalist, songwriter, dancer, and actor, boasts a net worth of $35 million. Despite Nick Carter's career initiation through his involvement with the Backstreet Boys, he subsequently established himself as a prosperous solo artist following his departure from the band. Furthermore, his presence on reality television has also garnered notable recognition.
Nicholas Gene Carter was born in Jamestown, New York, on January 28, 1980. His parents moved to Florida from Jamestown, where they owned a pub. Carter has four kids, including twins. Nick's mother believed he was talented after hearing him sing and made sure he got professional instruction. Carter started dancing at a young age along with singing.
Nick Carter auditioned for Backstreet Boys at 12. He auditioned for The Mickey Mouse Club and got accepted into both, so he had to choose. Nick Carter initially wanted to act, but he joined the Backstreet Boys. Backstreet Boys formed a year later in 1993 when Carter was 13. Carter, the youngest, needed a tutor on tours. After traveling for years, Carter and the Backstreet Boys released their debut album in 1996. Backstreet's Back followed in 1997.
After touring in 1999, the Backstreet Boys signed a $60 million JIVE contract. The 2000 album Black and Blue was their next. Nick Carter departed Backstreet Boys in 2002. Nick Carter wanted to stay with his management business and start a solo career, but the other members wanted to depart.
In 2002, Nick Carter released Now or Never, his debut album. Pop-rock tunes like "Help Me" were on it. He began touring for this new record. Nick Carter became famous after launching a solo career and being named Cosmogirl's "Sexiest Man in the World."
Despite starting a second solo album, Nick Carter returned to the Backstreet Boys in 2004 to help them record their next album. In 2005, the Backstreet Boys released Never Gone. Nick Carter toured with the Backstreet Boys and helped them release Unbreakable, This Is Us, In a World Like This, and DNA after rejoining. He remains a group member in 2020.
Nick Carter released "I'm Taking Off." in 2011, his second solo album. Carter worked with Jennifer Paige, Jordan Knight, and Carl Falk for years. Nick Carter released his third solo album, All American, with Avril Lavigne in 2015. He promoted the album with 2015 and 2016 tours.
Nick Carter pursued film and TV chances throughout his music career. This began in 2002 with American Dreams and 8 Simple Rules roles. The Hollow, a horror film, was his 2004 lead. Nick Carter began planning a new reality show with his siblings after rejoining the Backstreet Boys. The show became House of Carters in 2006. The show centers on the Carter siblings living together. The show ended after eight episodes and one season.
Nick Carter returned to reality TV with VH1's I Heart Nick Carter in 2014. The sitcom returned for one season and followed Carter's preparations to marry Lauren Kitt. Nick Carter participated in Dancing with the Stars 21 in 2015. He finished second in the finals. Nick Carter wrote and starred in Dead 7, a 2016 horror film with Backstreet Boys and other celebrities. In 2017, he judged "Boy Band," and in 2020, he competed on "The Masked Singer."

AJ McLean - $30 Million

AJ McLean wearing a light green silk polo long sleeves
AJ McLean wearing a light green silk polo long sleeves
AJ McLean, an American vocalist, dancer, and performer, boasts a net worth of $30 million. His journey in the music industry commenced at an early age, marked by his participation in talent exhibitions and contests. In the year 1993, he became a member of the Backstreet Boys, a group that would go on to achieve unparalleled fame as one of the most renowned boy bands in history. The inaugural album of the Backstreet Boys hit the music scene in 1996, setting the stage for a series of triumphs with a lineup of chart-topping albums and singles during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
On January 9, 1978, Alexander James McLean was born in West Palm Beach, Florida. As a child, he had a problem with his speech that caused him to stutter and lisp. He knew early on that he wanted to be a performer and began to train for a future in acting, dancing, and singing.
In March 1992, a newspaper ad asked young guys between the ages of 16 and 19 to try out for a new band. Even though McLean was only 14, he tried out. In April 1992, he became the group's first legal member. After he joined the group, he took correspondence classes with a tutor while on the road to finish his senior year of high school.
They almost got a deal with Mercury Records, but the deal fell through at the last minute when Mercury artist John Mellencamp threatened to leave the label if they started making music as a boy band. In 1994, they made a deal with Zomba Music and later that year, they went to Sweden to record songs. Their first song, "We've Got It Goin' On," was sent to radio stations in August 1995, but it wasn't a big hit in the U.S.
The group called "Backstreet Boys" finished making their first album, which came out in 1996. First, they became more famous in Europe, where their song "I'll Never Break Your Heart" went gold. After releasing "Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)" in 1997, the group became popular in America. The song went to No. 4 and helped the group sell over one million records, which earned them a platinum award. The songs "Everybody" and "As Long as You Love Me" from their second album, "Backstreet's Back," were huge hits.
From 1996 to 2013, AJ was on eight albums with the famous band. These albums include "Backstreet's Back", "Millennium", "Black & Blue", "Unbreakable", and "In a World Like This". As a group, they have sold more than 130 million songs all over the world and are the best-selling boy band of all time. The band still plays together on huge trips around the world, and they have had several residencies, including one in Las Vegas.
In 2008, McLean did a few shows as himself and worked with Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic and JC Chasez of 'N Sync. He made a character for himself called "Johnny No Name" that he would use when he wasn't playing with the other members of the Backstreet Boys. "Have It All" was his first solo record, which came out in 2010. Since then, he has put out several songs.

People Also Ask

How Did The Backstreet Boys Get Their Name?

The Backstreet Boys' name was coined by the group's founder, Lou Pearlman. The term "backstreet" was inspired by a flea market in Orlando, Florida, where Pearlman's blimp company had an office.

Are The Backstreet Boys Still Together?

The Backstreet Boys are still together and actively performing. They continue to tour and create music, although individual members may pursue solo projects as well.

When Did The Backstreet Boys Start?

The Backstreet Boys were officially formed in 1993. They gained prominence during the mid-1990s and achieved massive success throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s.

How Many Albums Have The Backstreet Boys Released?

The Backstreet Boys have released a total of 10 studio albums. Their discography includes albums like "Backstreet Boys," "Millennium," "Black & Blue," "Never Gone," "This Is Us," and more.

What Are The Backstreet Boys' Biggest Hits?

The Backstreet Boys have several chart-topping hits, including "I Want It That Way," "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)," "As Long As You Love Me," "Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)," and "Larger Than Life," among others.

Conclusion

The Backstreet Boys' legacy goes far beyond their catchy tunes and energetic performances. As we've explored the lives of the richest members, it's evident that their success is a testament to their versatility, entrepreneurial spirit, and unwavering commitment to their craft. From solo music careers and acting endeavors to fashion lines and philanthropic ventures, these individuals have proven that their talents extend beyond the realm of music. Their ability to navigate various industries and translate their fame into financial prosperity showcases a multifaceted approach to success.
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James Pierce

James Pierce

Author
Emily Sanchez

Emily Sanchez

Reviewer
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