Although Nick Carter was always front and center, he isn’t the BSB member with the highest net worth, but here’s who is!
The Backstreet Boys made a name for themselves following their 1993 debut, completely revolutionizing boy bands as we know it! Their reign throughout the 90s and early 2000s cemented their status in the industry, however, they weren’t competing alone!
The band, which included Nick Carter, AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, Kevin Richardson, and Howie Dorough, found themselves up against their biggest competition, *NSYNC! While the two groups have nothing but love for one another, it goes without saying that they found themselves fighting for that number one spot!
Luckily for the boys, their reign surpassed that of NSYNC* or any other group, allowing them to become the best-selling boy band of all time! With over 100 million records sold, it’s evident the boys were racking in the big bucks. Although Nick Carter was always front and center, he isn’t the BSB member with the highest net worth, but here’s who is!
8. The Backstreet Boys Were Originally A Trio
While the Backstreet Boys are notorious for being a boy band made up of 5 members, the group was actually originally meant to be a trio! Howie Dorough and AJ McLean were the first to come together, considering they were both natives to Orlando, Florida. The duo met through a mutual vocal coach and later stumbled across Nick Carter through auditions in 1990. The three of ’em realized they could harmonize perfectly, and began to sketch out the beginning stages of their trio.
It wasn’t until cousins, Kevin Richardson and Brian Littrell, who reigned from Lexington, Kentucky, moved over to Florida. Two years later, Lou Perlman was on the hunt for the newest boy band, and after coming across Howie, AJ, and Nick, it didn’t take much time before Kevin and Brian joined the picture, officially starting their journey as the Backstreet Boys.
7. Lou Perlman Controversy
Lou Perlman was a respected producer in the music industry. Perlman not only created Backstreet Boys, but he was also the mastermind behind *NSYNC, too! Despite his reputation in the biz, Lou’s world came tumbling down when it was revealed that he had been embezzling and laundering money through his various musical acts, BSB included!
It was later shared that Perlman singlehandedly orchestrated one of the biggest US Ponzi schemes in history to the tune of $300 million. Lou was sentenced following the 2006 allegations, and he has been serving his 25-year prison sentence ever since.
6. Did The Scandal Affect Their Net Worth?
Lou Perlman’s actions not only affected his many investors, they totally affected his businesses, which included a multitude of musical acts. While Backstreet Boys remain worth a whopping $200 million, many fans wonder if they would’ve been worth more sans Lou Perlman? Turns out, the band didn’t lose out on too much money, however, they still lost out on some!
According to reports, the band sued Perlman following his trial, and while they sought nearly $3.5 million from him, they have since been granted a total of $99,000 in cash, instead. Luckily for the Backstreet Boys, their individual net worths didn’t really suffer, and while they may be worth a collective $200 million, who comes out on top as the richest?
5. AJ McLean – $30 Million
AJ McLean comes in with a net worth of $30 million, mainly made from his time spent performing with the Backstreet Boys. AJ has remained with the group since their start back in the 90s, and while they may have taken a temporary hiatus come the mid-2000s, that didn’t stop AJ from pursuing music.
McLean went on to release his very first single, ‘Have It All’, back in 2010, which was completely separate from the BSB. AJ also decided to go by the name “Johnny No Name” when performing solo, as to separate himself from the band. While he could’ve been worth more, his many stints in rehab, which date back to 2001, have certainly come at a cost!
4. Nick Carter – $35 Million
Despite being one of the biggest names attached to the Backstreet Boys, Nick Carter isn’t the wealthiest member! Although he comes in second to last, there’s really no losing when you’re worth $35 million! Nick managed to make some major coin with the boys, however, it was his go at a solo career that truly made him his millions.
While the other boys all ventured off on their own following the band’s hiatus, it was Nick’s solo career that truly catapulted him to great heights. Carter also landed his very own reality series alongside his younger brother, Aaron Carter. In addition to his music, Nick Carter also took a liking to acting, where he landed roles in 8 Simple Rules, The Hollow, and American Dreams.
3. Kevin Richardson – $40 Million
Kevin Richardson was easily a fan favorite within the Backstreet Boys, which allowed him to have quite a lucrative career in the entertainment business following the group’s 2003 hiatus. That very year, Kevin played the role of Billy Flynn in the Broadway musical, Chicago! Three years later, the singer returned to New York City to reprise his role for the 10th anniversary of the show.
It was at this time that Kevin Richardson took a liking to theatre and acting, scoring a series of roles in The Bloody Indulgent, The Casserole Club, and Unwound, to name a few. Luckily for Kevin, his work in music, theatre, and acting allowed him to amass a net worth of $40 million!
2. Howie Dorough – $45 Million
Howie Dorough has amassed a net worth of $45 million, the highest of the entire group! While his time with the Backstreet Boys certainly allowed him to make his millions, it was his solo career and business ventures that truly made him the big bucks. Dorough released his first solo album, Back To Me, in 2011, the same year he joined Britney Spears on her Femme Fatale tour.
Howie also founded Sweet D Inc, a real estate developing company that has surely made him one of the wealthiest BSB members. Last year, Howie invested in a $35 million condominium building in Floriday that is set to become quite the hot spot, so it is safe to say that his net worth is only going up from here on out.
1. Brian Littrell – $45 Million
Brian Littrell ties with fellow BSB member, Howie Dorough for highest net worth with a whopping $45 million! Brian, who was always the most conservative member of the boy band found himself pursuing a solo career during the band’s hiatus.
While he joined Backstreet Boys upon their reunion, Littrell had quite an impressive solo career, especially within the Christian music realm. His holiday albums sold quite well, landing himself the top spot on the U.S Christian Inspirational chart, and no. 3 on the Christian album charts.
