Keith Richards: Biography, Net Worth, and Health Updates

There’s a reason Keith Richards has been called rock’s great survivor — he’s lived several lives in one, and most of them are still going. The Rolling Stones guitarist has been a riff machine, a counterculture icon, and a man who keeps showing up on stage despite decades of expectations to the contrary.

Born: 18 December 1943 ·
Age: 81 ·
Net worth (estimated): $500 million ·
Rolling Stones member since: 1962 ·
Notable acting role: Captain Teague in Pirates of the Caribbean ·
Spouse: Patti Hansen (married 1983)

Six key facts, one pattern: Keith Richards’ life is a study in longevity — a career that spans seven decades, a net worth that rivals his bandmate’s, and a personal story of survival that continues to evolve.

Are Keith Richards and Mick Jagger still friends?

Yes — despite well-publicised tensions over the decades, Keith Richards and Mick Jagger remain close. The two met in 1962 at a London train station and bonded over American blues music, according to a report from ABC News Australia (Australian public broadcaster). That shared passion became the foundation of one of rock’s most enduring partnerships.

Richards described the dynamic plainly in a 2021 interview with Best Classic Bands (veteran music publication): “I have his back; he has mine.” The pair have co-written the majority of the Rolling Stones’ catalogue, including iconic tracks like “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” and “Sympathy for the Devil,” as noted by NPR (U.S. national radio network).

“He’s the rock of the band, always there.”

— Mick Jagger

Is Mick Jagger a nice guy in real life?

Colleagues describe Jagger as charismatic but intensely private. He’s known for his sharp business acumen and perfectionism, which has sometimes clashed with Richards’ more freewheeling approach. In a 2012 feature, ABC News Australia reported that the two had mended their relationship after a period of strain, suggesting that Jagger’s demanding personality was part of what made the partnership work — and also what caused friction.

Did David Bowie have a fling with Mick Jagger?

This rumour has circulated for years, but no confirmed evidence exists. David Bowie himself dismissed the idea in interviews, and neither Jagger nor any close associate has ever substantiated the claim. It remains in the realm of rock mythology rather than documented fact.

Do Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger get along?

The two share mutual respect. McCartney and Jagger have collaborated on various projects over the years, including joint performances at charity events and the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony. Their relationship is professional and cordial, though not a close friendship.

Is Mick Jagger a cigarette smoker?

Yes — Jagger has been a long-time smoker, though he reportedly reduced his intake in recent years. Neither he nor his representatives have publicly confirmed specific quit dates, but the habit is well-documented by biographers and photographers.

The implication: the Jagger-Richards bond is less about harmony and more about a shared musical mission that has outlasted every personal conflict.

Who’s richer, Mick Jagger or Keith Richards?

By most estimates, the two are neck-and-neck. Both are worth approximately $500 million, according to a range of secondary sources. Celebrity Net Worth (wealth tracking site) lists Richards at around $500 million, with some estimates ranging from $340 million to $600 million. The Famous People (biography database) cites a similar figure.

Three comparisons, one pattern: both men built their fortunes from the same source — the Rolling Stones’ touring, publishing, and licensing empire — and their wealth runs close enough that the difference is within the margin of error for private wealth estimates.

The pattern: Richards and Jagger may not be the richest rock stars, but they’ve held their wealth longer than most — which underscores the Rolling Stones’ relentless touring engine and canny business management.

Who is the richest rock star of all time?

That title belongs to Paul McCartney, with an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion, according to wealth tracking sources. Bono is also in the conversation at around $700 million. Richards and Jagger, while extraordinarily wealthy, sit below those top-tier figures.

When did Keith Richards go sober?

Keith Richards quit alcohol in 2010 after a fall from a tree in Fiji. In his autobiography Life, published the same year, he wrote: “I decided I had enough after that fall. It was time.” The incident was a turning point, as Wikipedia (the free encyclopedia) notes.

His relationship with drugs had been more complex. Richards faced drug-related charges five times — in 1967, 1973, 1977, and 1978, according to Celebrity Net Worth (wealth tracking site). He stopped using heroin in the 1970s and quit cocaine in the early 2000s, though in 2016 he told interviewers he still occasionally used cannabis and hashish.

In 2022, Richards revealed he had also quit smoking in 2020, as reported by Wikipedia (the free encyclopedia).

“I decided I had enough after that fall. It was time.”

— Keith Richards, from his autobiography Life

What this means: Keith Richards didn’t get clean all at once. He quit substances in stages over four decades, and the final piece — alcohol — fell into place after a physical scare at 66.

What is Keith Richards’ current health condition?

As of 2025, Keith Richards is reported to be in good health for his age. He underwent hip replacement surgery in 2019 but continues to tour and record with the Rolling Stones. The band released Hackney Diamonds in 2023, their first album of original material in 18 years, and performed live shows to support it.

Richards told The Sydney Morning Herald (Australian news outlet) that he hopes he still has many years left, despite decades of heavy drug use. No medical source has publicly confirmed his current health status, but his touring schedule suggests reasonable fitness.

The catch: the same man who once seemed invincible to the consequences of drug use is now managing routine age-related issues — hips, lungs, and the long tail of a hard-living past — while still performing at a level most musicians half his age can’t sustain.

“We’ve had our ups and downs, but we’re still brothers.”

— Keith Richards, in an interview with Best Classic Bands (veteran music publication)

What is Keith Richards’ net worth?

Keith Richards’ net worth is estimated at $500 million, derived from music sales, touring, publishing royalties, and investments. Celebrity Net Worth (wealth tracking site) places the figure at approximately $500 million, while The Famous People (biography database) lists it around $340 million. The spread reflects the difficulty of pinning down private wealth, but the consensus among industry sources is that he sits comfortably in the half-billion-dollar range.

Additional income streams include acting roles — most notably his portrayal of Captain Teague in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise — and royalties from his 2010 autobiography Life, which became a New York Times bestseller.

The pattern: Richards’ net worth, like his career, has compounded over time. The Rolling Stones’ touring engine — one of the highest-grossing in music history — is the primary driver, and it shows no signs of slowing.

How old is Keith Richards?

Keith Richards was born on 18 December 1943, making him 81 years old as of 2025. He will turn 82 in December 2025. His age is a frequent topic of curiosity precisely because he has remained active and visible for so long — a career that began in 1962 now spans 63 years and counting.

When The Sydney Morning Herald (Australian news outlet) reported on him in 2010, he was 67 — already an elder statesman of rock. Fifteen years later, he’s still touring, still recording, and still every bit the figure who defined a generation of guitar playing.

Why this matters: Richards’ age is not just a number — it’s a proof point. He has outlasted nearly every peer who shared his habits, and his continued presence on stage rewrites what’s possible for a musician who started at the extreme end of rock’s risk curve.

Timeline

• 18 December 1943 — Born in Dartford, England (The Famous People)
• 1962 — Co-founded the Rolling Stones with Mick Jagger and Brian Jones (ABC News Australia)
• 1983 — Married model Patti Hansen (The Famous People)
• 1989 — Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Celebrity Net Worth)
• 2010 — Published autobiography Life; quit alcohol after a fall in Fiji (Wikipedia)
• 2007 — Portrayed Captain Teague in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (Best Classic Bands)
• 2023 — Rolling Stones release new album Hackney Diamonds (NPR)

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

• Keith Richards was born on 18 December 1943. (The Famous People)
• He is a founding member of the Rolling Stones. (ABC News Australia)
• He married Patti Hansen in 1983. (The Famous People)
• He quit alcohol in 2010. (Wikipedia)
• He quit smoking in 2020. (Wikipedia)
• He underwent hip replacement surgery in 2019. (The Sydney Morning Herald)
• He has five children. (The Famous People)
• He co-wrote “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” and “Sympathy for the Devil.” (NPR)

What’s unclear

• Exact date of stopping drug use is not precisely documented.
• Current health condition is reported as good but not verified by a medical source.
• Net worth estimates vary between $340 million and $600 million depending on the source.
• The precise nature of the Jagger-Richards personal relationship outside of work is not publicly detailed.

Related reading: Tommy Lee: Life, Love, and Loss of a Rock Icon

Frequently Asked Questions