“I’m Still Standing” – Elton John

And not only is he still standing – he’s thriving. According to a recent Billboard report, Elton John’s ongoing Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour has become the highest-grossing concert tour of all time, with ~$818 million in total ticket sales.

Here’s how it stacks up to the previous top three:

• Ed Sheeran’s Divide Tour: $776.4 million (2017-2019)
• U2’s U2 360º Tour: $736.4 million (2009-2011)
• Guns N’ Roses’ Not In This Lifetime… Tour: $584.2 million (2016-2019)

✋ Yes, but… After adjusting for inflation, John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour actually comes in third place, behind Sheeran and U2. Though when the dust finally settles, there’s a solid chance he still comes out on top.

John is playing 51 more shows in Europe before the tour concludes, and rakes in an average of $2.94 million per show. Which equates to an extra ~$150 million in revenue – or more than enough to close the ~$69 million inflation-adjusted gap between #3 and #1.

🎤 Big picture: Though if we’re talking career numbers, Elton isn’t coming for that #1 spot – he’s currently holding it. John is the highest-grossing solo artist in the Pollstar era (since 1980), with ~$1.8 billion in career ticket sales.

+Trivia: Madonna and Celine Dion, each at ~$1.4 billion in career ticket sales, round out the top three highest-grossing solo artists. But two bands have made more than any of the three solo artists mentioned above – know who they are? (Answer here.)