Toby Keith was one of the biggest country stars of his generation, and you’d expect him to be rich. But the country legend’s true net worth was so extraordinary, it made most of his fellow country singers look poverty-stricken by comparison.

Keith earned a long string of No. 1 hits, including “Who’s That Man,” “How Do You Like Me Now?!,” “My List,” “Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue (The Angry American),” “American Soldier,” “As Good as I Once Was” and more.

The unapologetically patriotic country superstar’s signature blend of blue-collar anthems, flag-waving songs and romantic and introspective lyrics made him into a country superstar whose tours routinely sold out the biggest arenas and stadiums, but the money from records sales, airplay and concert tours was only the tip of the iceberg of the massive financial empire Keith built.

How Did Toby Keith Make His Money?

Keith leveraged his country stardom as a springboard to a number of other business ventures over the years. His multiple income streams included endorsement deals, a chain of restaurants called Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill, a clothing line, a Mezcal brand, an acting career and more.

Keith owned and operated his own record label, Show Dog-Universal, and he was also a minority stakeholder in Big Machine Records, where he earned a portion of the profits from the careers of Taylor Swift and other artists.

What Was Toby Keith’s Net Worth?

Toby Keith’s mix of musical and financial savvy made him one of the richest celebrities in the world, and Forbes dubbed him “Country Music’s $500 Million Man” in 2013, documenting a net worth of half a billion dollars.

Keith told the Oklahoman that he was not comfortable with the focus on his massive wealth.

“I play golf with my shirttail out,” Keith observed. “I own a golf course because it’s very, very close to my house, and I don’t want to drive 45 minutes to the north side of Oklahoma City to play golf every day.”

Toby Keith died on Feb. 5, 2024, after a two-year battle with stomach cancer. He was 62 years old.