Angus Young Net Worth 2025: AC/DC’s Guitar Icon and His $160 Million Fortune

Angus Young Net Worth: AC/DC’s Guitar Dynamo and His $160 Million Fortune.

Angus Young, the Scottish-born, Australian-raised lead guitarist of AC/DC, is as recognizable for his schoolboy uniform as he is for his blistering guitar riffs. Behind the duckwalks, headbanging, and timeless anthems lies a staggering financial empire. As of 2025, Angus Young’s net worth is estimated at $160 million, a fortune built from decades of sold-out tours, best-selling albums, and shrewd investments.

Quick Fact Box

Net Worth (2025): $160 million
Date of Birth: March 31, 1955 (Glasgow, Scotland)
Profession: Musician, songwriter, guitarist (AC/DC co-founder)
Key Assets: AC/DC royalties, Sydney mansion, Dutch estate
Major Career Highlight: Back in Black – 50 million+ copies sold

Early Life and Musical Roots

Born in Glasgow in 1955, Angus McKinnon Young emigrated to Sydney, Australia, with his family at age eight. Growing up surrounded by music—his older brother George Young was a hitmaker with the Easybeats—Angus gravitated toward the guitar. By 1973, he and his brother Malcolm had formed AC/DC, planting the seeds of a global rock juggernaut at their childhood home in Burwood, which was unfortunately demolished in late 2024.

AC/DC’s Rise and Angus Young’s Wealth

AC/DC’s raw, blues-driven hard rock quickly cut through the mid-’70s music scene. Angus’s manic energy on stage became a trademark, while his riff-driven songwriting powered albums like High Voltage and Let There Be Rock.

The breakthrough came with 1979’s Highway to Hell, but tragedy struck when singer Bon Scott died in 1980. Many assumed the band was finished—until Angus and Malcolm regrouped with Brian Johnson and released Back in Black, now one of the best-selling albums in history (50+ million copies worldwide). The royalties alone continue to generate millions annually for Angus and the Young estate.

Subsequent tours and albums—including The Razors Edge (1990) and Black Ice (2008-2010)—have kept AC/DC in the elite tier of touring acts. The band’s tours consistently gross in the hundreds of millions, with the Black Ice tour pulling in $441.9 million according to Pollstar.

A Breakdown of Angus Young's $160 Million Fortune

Angus Young's net worth is built on three key pillars: his music catalog, touring revenue, and real estate. The single most valuable asset is his stake in the AC/DC music catalog.

In 2021, Sony Music Publishing secured a deal to represent the band's works, a move that brought publishing and recording rights under a single banner for the first time. The financial terms were not disclosed, but such deals are based on a multiple of an artist's annual income. Given the band's consistent global sales (over 200 million records) as reported by Rolling Stone magazine and high-value songs like "Back in Black" and "Thunderstruck," music industry analysts estimate the full AC/DC catalog could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Touring has also been a massive and verifiable source of income. According to industry publication Pollstar, the Rock or Bust World Tour (2015-2016) grossed an impressive $221.1 million across its run, ranking among the highest-grossing tours of the decade according to Ultimate Classic Rock Magazine.

While Forbes doesn't provide an individual net worth for Young, they recognized the band's collective financial power by reporting AC/DC's earnings at $67.5 million for the 2016 Celebrity 100 list, making them the highest-earning rock act of that year according to Forbes.

Given his role as a co-founder, lead guitarist, and primary songwriter for decades, industry experts estimate that Angus, along with his late brother Malcolm's estate, would have received the largest portion of these earnings, likely a majority of the tour's profit after expenses are paid.

This pay structure is a long-established dynamic in the music industry, where founding members and songwriters maintain a more substantial and protected stake in the band's business.

The ongoing Power Up Tour (2024-2025) is also a major earner. Across seven reported shows in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, and Ireland, AC/DC sold 463,218 tickets at five venues, generating a massive $69.3 million in gross revenue according to Pollstar.

Finally, his wealth is supported by his real estate portfolio, including his well-known homes in Sydney, Australia, and Aalten, Netherlands.

While the specific valuations of these private properties are not public, they represent significant, multi-million-dollar assets that anchor his financial position.

Real Estate and Assets

Angus Young’s mansion in Aalten, Netherlands, reflects his $160 million net worth. The AC/DC guitarist’s three-storey estate, complete with a recording studio and luxury amenities, stands as one of the most iconic rock star homes in Europe.

For all his stadium-sized success, Angus Young lives surprisingly quietly. His known properties include:

Sydney, Australia: A sprawling waterfront estate in Kangaroo Point, overlooking Georges River. Valued in the multi-million-dollar range, the property features a private jetty and lush gardens—an oasis far from the chaos of touring.
Aalten, Netherlands: A historic mansion in his wife Ellen’s native country, offering him privacy in Europe.
Discreet Investments: Reports suggest Young holds further real estate and land investments under private entities, underscoring his conservative, wealth-preserving approach.

From Burwood to Millions

The story of Angus Young’s $160 million fortune begins in a far more modest setting. In late 2024, the small Sydney home at 4 Burleigh Street—where Angus and his brother Malcolm first formed AC/DC—was mistakenly demolished by a developer. The unassuming brick bungalow had long been a pilgrimage site for fans, yet it lacked heritage protections to preserve it.

For Angus, the demolition was a poignant reminder of just how far he had come. From writing early riffs in a cramped suburban living room to selling more than 200 million records worldwide, his financial journey has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Today, his wealth is anchored by world tours, catalog royalties, and multimillion-dollar estates in Australia and Europe. While the original Burwood home is gone, Burwood Council has kept the legacy alive with a mural dedicated to Angus and Malcolm—ensuring AC/DC’s roots remain celebrated even as Angus enjoys one of rock’s most enduring fortunes.

How Rich Is Angus Young?

As of 2025, Angus Young’s net worth is $160 million. The majority comes from:

Album Sales: Over 200 million AC/DC records sold globally.
Touring: Hundreds of millions in gross revenue per tour.
Publishing Royalties: Ongoing income from classics like “Highway to Hell,” “Thunderstruck,” and “Back in Black.”
Merchandising & Licensing: AC/DC’s iconic logo generates millions annually.
Real Estate Holdings: Multi-million-dollar estates in Australia and the Netherlands.

Annual Income

Young’s yearly earnings vary depending on touring schedules, but analysts estimate $10–20 million per year, blending royalties, licensing, and live performance cuts. In peak touring years, that figure can easily double.

Lifestyle and Personal Life

Unlike many rock contemporaries, Angus never embraced the hard-living stereotype. A teetotaler and non-smoker, he has been married to Ellen van Lochem since 1980. They have no children, preferring a private, low-key existence.

When not performing, Angus is said to enjoy reading, watching cricket, and staying out of the limelight—a striking contrast to his onstage persona.

Legacy and Influence

Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, Angus Young is widely regarded as one of the most influential guitarists of all time. His blend of raw energy and unforgettable riffs ensures AC/DC remains one of the top-grossing bands even five decades on.

Much like David Lee Roth did for Van Halen, Angus brought a larger-than-life stage presence that helped define an era of rock. Yet while Roth’s fortune is estimated at around $60 million, Angus’s $160 million net worth places him in a higher financial league—proof of AC/DC’s unmatched global reach and enduring catalog.

Financially, his legacy is equally secure. With catalog royalties, merchandise, and multimillion-dollar estates, Angus Young’s wealth is positioned to endure well beyond his touring years.

Angus Young FAQs

How much is Angus Young worth in 2025? His net worth is estimated at $160 million, primarily from AC/DC royalties, touring, and real estate.

How much money does he make per concert? During major tours, AC/DC shows can gross over $2 million per night, with Angus earning several hundred thousand dollars from each.

Who is the richest member of AC/DC? Angus Young is considered the wealthiest, surpassing surviving bandmates through his role as co-founder and lead songwriter.

Does he still earn money from Malcolm Young’s songs? Yes. As a co-writer and family member, Angus continues to receive royalties from his late brother Malcolm’s compositions.

What is AC/DC’s catalog worth? Industry insiders estimate AC/DC’s full music catalog could be worth $500–600 million if ever sold, ensuring ongoing royalty streams for Angus and the Young family.

The Bottom Line

From Glasgow tenements to Sydney stadiums, Angus Young’s story is one of relentless energy, discipline, and financial savvy. With a fortune estimated at $160 million, the diminutive guitarist who built AC/DC’s sonic empire remains one of rock’s wealthiest legends—proof that a schoolboy outfit and a Gibson SG can be the foundation of a financial empire.

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