Bo Diddley – Estimated $950K

Most people today don’t even know who Bo Diddley was, but his contribution to the history of music was unparalleled. Diddley was born in Chicago, and he played his first instruments at his local church. It wasn’t long before he realized he had a unique musical talent.

With his signature rectangular guitar, Diddley mixed African and blues elements, eventually helping shape rock n’ roll. He paved the way for Elvis, The Beatles, and many more artists. During his career, his earnings were estimated to be around $950K, but that’s without inflation. He passed away in 2008.