Meet One-Hit Wonders Who Ensured Fortunes Worth Millions With a Single Song

Sep 07, 2023

By: Vallari Vaidya

1. Taylor Hicks - $1 Million

Artists who achieve early success and fame could go on to have long, fulfilling careers, may become enduring acts like the Rolling Stones, or might just be remembered as one-hit-wonders. However, despite the short-lived fame of the artist, that one song manage...

2. Sinéad O'Connor - $1.5 Million

The 44-year-old singer who won American Idol, wrote his one-hit wonder, "Do I Make You Proud," for the show's finale. Hicks secured his victory and earned a $1 million net worth before a break from music in recent years to spend time with family...

3. Bobby McFerrin - $5 Million

Sinéad O'Connor's '90s cover of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U" remains iconic to this day, thanks to her emotional performance and the memorable music video featuring her in a graveyard with a tear rolling down her cheek. She&apo...

4. Toni Basil - $5 Million

Almost everyone has likely heard the popular song "Don't Worry, Be Happy" at least once, and this incredibly soothing and positively uplifting song was destined to be a hit. Although it was the only chartbuster Bobby McFerrin delivered, he doesn...

5. Vanilla Ice - $12 Million

Toni Basil achieved chart-topping success with her 1982 hit, "Hey Mickey," which became a one-hit wonder. This catchy single was part of her debut album, "Word of Mouth," and was originally titled "Kitty" when written by Mike Chap...

6. Billy Ray Cyrus - $20 Million

Vanilla Ice is best known for his '90s hit, "Ice Ice Baby," which was a groundbreaking hip-hop song that topped the charts during the rise of rap and hip-hop. While he had a successful career, it was this captivating track that catapulted him to...

7. Sir Mix-A-Lot - $30 Million

In this day and age millennials and GenZ know Billy Ray Cyrus as Miley Cyrus' father, but he had made a name for himself in the world of country music back in 1992. Cyrus released the highly successful song "Achy Breaky Heart," which became the ...

8. Morten Harket - $60 Million

In the '90s and early 2000s, the song "Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-A-Lot was a cultural phenomenon, making appearances everywhere, and was even discussed on an episode of FRIENDS. This iconic track emerged as a one-hit wonder from his second album...

9. Psy - $60 Million

The band A-ha gained fame through their incredible hit "Take On Me," with lead singer Morten Harket at the forefront. Although they may not be among the most relevant bands today, Morten Harket has amassed an impressive net worth of $60 million, larg...