Despite lacking the mainstream ubiquity of many arena bands, Phish is one of the highest-grossing touring acts performing today. Phish’s prolific, nationwide tours practically print money for their organization. To put it bluntly, Phish is big bucks, y’all.
Live Nation, the promoter for Phish’s Baker’s Dozen 2017 residency at Madison Square Garden, reported that Phish grossed more than $15,000,000 in ticket sales for the residency. While Phish only sold out five of the 13 shows, total attendance was only 8,893 less than total capacity for the combined shows: 227,385 out of 236,278. Each of the 13 shows averaged a gross revenue of just about $1.6 million.
Comparatively, however, Dead and Company’s CitiField Show (June 24, 2017) grossed $4,032,321 for its 27,299-capacity sellout. And Billy Joel’s sold-out show at Boston’s Fenway Park (August 30, 1017) grossed $4.2 million. Both acts had ticket tiers as high as $150 per ticket, twice the price of the highest ticket tier ($74) for Phish’s Baker’s Dozen shows.
Now, of course, these are gross numbers and do not reflect what the band members earn or include any expenses. That said, we also don’t have any earnings from merchandise, live webcasts, or mp3 downloads, which would most certainly add up, particularly across 13 shows.
In 2016, according to Pollstar, Phish ranked No. 24 in the highest-grossing music tours of the year, averaging $1.7 million per show across 42 shows in 22 cities. The top three earners were, in ascending order, Bruce Springsteen, Guns N’ Roses, and Beyoncé.
This year 2013 was also a great one for Phish. Billboard’s Hot Tours ranked Phish the No. 2 grossing act in North America, just behind Dave Matthews Band. That year Phish played 20 shows, with six sellouts, including two of the three Labor Day weekend shows at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado. For 2013’s summer tour, the band grossed $18 million and sold 365,052 tickets.
As another example, Phish’s four-night run for New Year’s Eve 2011 at Madison Square Garden grossed $4.4 million with a full sellout of the 75,707 total capacity.
According to CelebrityNetWorth.com, Phish keyboardist Page McConnell has a net worth of $55 million; bassist Mike Gordon, $60 million; drummer Jon Fishman has a net worth of $65 million; and guitarist and front man Trey Anastasio’s net worth is $85 million.