Elton John concluded Glastonbury last night, in what was billed to be the star’s last-ever show in the UK. It was a spectacular affair, with a variety of surprise guests, as well as all the bells and whistles you would expect from Glastonbury’s final headliner.
In the wake of the wonderful show, fans have been figuring out how much Elton was likely paid for his gig – and the result has left them baffled!
Now, Elton John is a British sensation. Known for his flamboyant costumes and magnetic stage presence, he has taken the world by storm with his chart-topping hits and unrivalled showmanship.
From humble beginnings in Pinner, England, Elton’s trajectory has been nothing short of extraordinary. With an unwavering dedication to his craft, he honed his piano skills, capturing hearts with his soul-stirring melodies and poignant lyrics.
His collaboration with lyricist Bernie Taupin proved to be a match made in heaven, creating smash hits such as ‘Bennie and the Jets’, ‘Tiny Dancer’ and ‘Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)’.
The seventy-six-year-old took to Glastonbury’s legendary Pyramid Stage last night, in what was somehow the star’s first-ever performance at the iconic festival.
I never thought I’d play Glastonbury and here I am,” he said. “It’s a very special and emotional night for me as it may be my last ever show in England, so I better play well and entertain you as you’ve been standing there so long.”
Donned in a gold suit and his iconic wide-rimmed orange-framed glasses, Elton took the humongous audience through a whole selection of his best hits, including everything from ‘Pinball Wizard’ to ‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me’.
Following the music legend’s performance, one question has been on everybody’s lips – just exactly how much money does one get paid to put on a show like that?
Well, turns out it might be less than you’d imagine. Glastonbury as a whole pays artists roughly ten percent less than other festivals, seeing as they donate such a huge amount of their ticket sales to various charities instead.
Emily Eavis, the festival’s co-organiser, told the BBC back in 2017: “We’re not in a situation where we’re able to just give people enormous amounts of money.”So we’re really grateful for the bands that we get because they’re basically doing it for the love of it.”
Emily’s father and the founder of Glastonbury, Michael Eavis, previously revealed, via LADBible: “I paid £200,000 for Paul McCartney and for Coldplay, and although it sounds a lot, they could have charged me far more.”
Rob Da Bank, who organises Bestival, recently told Somerset Live that headliners receive £500,000 or less.
“They cap their budget and even the headliners don’t get paid more than 500 grand, I think, which is cheap for some of the headliners and they’ve had a lot of them,” he shared.
Lyle Bignon, a music consultant who specialises in festivals, told Metro that he expected Elton to have been paid somewhere in the region of £250,000 thanks to his “decades of global fame.”
Fans have responded to the news with surprise.
“Is that it??? I thought it would have been like a million now that is worth every penny. He was bloody fantastic loved every minute of the set,” one person wrote.
A second said: “He was worth every penny of it, still singing like the Elton John we’ve always known, he put on a good show, and showed he was worth the money paid.”
A third added: “He probably donated it directly to his Foundation anyway. What a way to end your career – you could see how much it meant to him.”
