(US $23,445,179), although they have a combined fortune of £70 million
(US $117,232,805).
Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne have seen their finances swell by almost £9 million
(US $15,073,931) in the past 12 months, during which they have toured, released a movie and a third album.
Just four years ago, they were unknown wannabes auditioning for a talent show. But One Direction have now been revealed as the richest boyband in British music history. The five-piece group achieved fame as runners-up on the X Factor in 2010.
The huge success of One Direction’s recent world tour, phenomenal success in America, DVD and merchandise sales, and a series of lucrative endorsement deals have seen the personal fortunes rise.
Their songs include: What Makes You Beautiful, Up All Night, You & I, Midnight Memories, Story of My Life, Kiss You & Take Me Home.
This incredible wealth is mind-boggling. Why do some bands struggle and never receive recognition when others capture the public's attention and rise to stardom? Fete? Being in the right spot at the right time?
Here's a sound I enjoy. Their songs are burned into my consciousness. In my teenage years of the 50s, the radio was always on, repeatedly playing my mother's favorite songs of theirs like: To Each His Own, My Prayer, Don't get around Much Anymore, Whispering Grass, and I Don't Want to set the World On Fire.
From the late 1930's to the early 1950's the original Ink Spots were one of the most popular and influential singing groups of the time. The original group, comprising Ivory Watson, Jerry Daniels, Charles Fuqua & Orville Jones, started by singing fast "jump" tunes beginning in 1934 and their early recordings reflected this style. The group became famous after the arrival of Bill Kenny in early 1936, and the group's addition of a ballad style featuring Bill Kenny's high tenor, the voice that made them famous.
I know which sound I'd rather listen to.
But as to The Ink Spot's fortunes, little is said. Back 70 years ago, fortunes weren't considered newsworthy. I'm not sure a person's wealth is important now, apart from raising people's envy.