He’s one of many world’s RICHEST musicians and value greater than Beyonce and Bono – however you’ve got most likely by no means heard of him

He’s richer than Beyonce, Bono and Bob Dylan and has bagged every award in the business, from Grammys to Tonys.

But you’ve probably never even heard of this trumpeter, singer-songwriter, painter, sculptor, record-producing extraordinaire. 

This jazz master, now 89, gained minor fame in the late 50s before bursting into the limelight the following decade, forming his Tijuana Brass band and even landing the best-selling album of 1965 with Whipped Cream & Other Delights – beating The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

His first no.1 followed three years later when he provided rare vocals for the Burt Bacharach and Hal David tune This Guy’s In Love With You. In 1979, he became the first and only musician to top the charts both as singer and instrumentalist, with the hit Rise.

After 50 albums – 14 being certified platinum and 15 gold – as well as 72 million record sales and even becoming the founder of A&M Records, the music legend is now worth an eye-watering £970 million ($1.25 billion).

But can you work out who he is?

He’s richer than Beyonce, Bono and Bob Dylan and has bagged every award in the business, from Grammys to Tonys but can you work out who he is?

It’s none other than Herb Alpert, a trumpeter and record producer who is still touring, teaming with his Tijuana Brass band once again for a US tour from February to August

His name is Herb Alpert – and his fingerprints can be seen all over the music industry, from a host of artists influenced by the trumpet-playing star, to the thousands of records released by A&M.

It all means that he is worth more than star of the 2025 Grammys, Beyonce ($1.13 bn) and even Bono ($1.04bn) whose tours with U2 have raked in some of the biggest gates of all time.

Despite being a billionaire, Herb is still touring, teaming with his Tijuana Brass band once again for a highly-anticipated US tour from February to August.

His career has spanned eight decades, kicking off in the 50s with writing credits on some top 20 hits.

A trip to Tijuana in 1962 inspired his unique sound and by 1965 he was top of the charts with Whipped Cream & Other Delights, whose famously racy cover featured model Dolores Erickson wearing just whipped cream.

After his number one single in 1968, Herb had a personal crisis, quitting music for four years before returning refreshed and stronger than ever in the mid 70s. 

His longevity has been remarkable, with recognition continuing into the modern era courtesy of a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album for Steppin’ Out in 2013.

Herb and A&M co-founder Jerry Moss sold the label to Philips subsidiary PolyGram for £387m ($500m) in 1989 and bagged an extra £155m ($200m) years later after the firm breached the deal.

A trip to Tijuana in 1962 inspired his unique sound and by 1965 he was top of the charts with Whipped Cream & Other Delights (pictured: Herb with Dean Martin in 1963)

After a number one single in 1968, Herb (pictured, in 1969 on the Sesame Street set) had a personal crisis, quitting music for four years before returning refreshed in the mid 70s

He then became the first and only musician to top the charts both singing and as an instrumentalist, with the hit Rise (pictured: Herb in 1984)

Herb (pictured, at the 2017 Grammys) and A&M co-founder Jerry Moss sold the label to Philips subsidiary PolyGram for £387m ($500m) in 1989

The musician is also a successful abstract expressionist painter and sculptor with his work gaining increased attention in recent years through several highly-publicised exhibitions. 

He got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1977 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.

Herb was even bestowed with the prestifious National Medal of Arts in 2013 by Barack and Michelle Obama.

His vast philanthropy work has mainly focussed on education, particularly relating to the arts, as well as various environmental issues. 

He and his second wife, singer Lani Hall, have made tens of millions of dollars worth of donations over 40 years with the most significant coming in 2007 courtesy of a £23.2m ($30m) grant to University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Herb has three children, Dore, 64, and Eden 58, with first wife Sharon Mae Lubin, and daughter Aria, 48, with Lani.