Not Shania Twain or Garth Brooks: This is country music’s richest singer — and her jaw-dropping net worth

This ‘Working Girl’ legend has amassed a huge $650 million fortune during an illustrious career that has spanned several decades.

If asked who is the richest country artist in the world in 2025, many fans might suggest Garth Brooks or Shania Twain (and they wouldn’t be too far off the mark). But the number one spot is occupied by a living legend – a singer-songwriter who has dedicated her whole life to show-business, appearing on local television and radio in Tennessee, her home state, when she was just a child.

Last year, she was named Billboard’s Greatest Country Artist of All Time – a title backed up by 100 million records worldwide, 11 Grammys and countless platinum, (RIAA)-certified gold and platinum awards.

Even younger music fans who might not have heard her name will probably be familiar with some of the songs she has written – I Will Always Love You, recorded by Whitney Houston for The Bodyguard soundtrack is the best-selling single by a female artist in history, having sold more than 24 million copies. It was written by the one and only Dolly Parton.

Dolly Parton, singer, songwriter, performer, actress, employer…

Forbes had estimated Dolly’s fortunes to be worth around $450 million – a hefty slice of that coming from her stake in the award-winning Dollywood theme park – an amusement park in Knoxville, near where she grew up, which pulls in almost four million visitors a year.

But according to new figures published by Celebrity Net Worth, Parton’s personal wealth is closer to $650 million – meaning that she is the richest country singer by a long way, dwarfing the respective fortunes boasted by Garth Brooks ($400 million) and Shania Twain ($350-$410 million).

And while Taylor Swift has an estimated net worth of $1.6 billion, she is considered more pop than country these days, so she doesn’t really count.

So how did Dolly Parton get so wealthy? Apart from being a shrewd businesswoman, she has a diverse array of talents. Her own songs have sold exceptionally well since the early 1970s (she had three No.1s in 1974 with “Jolene,” “I Will Always Love You” and “Love Is Like a Butterfly”). The cover versions of her songs by other people have also been hits – I Will Always Love You alone earned over $20 million in royalties.

Dolly has many other sidelines – as an actress, she has appeared in 12 feature films such as 9 to 5 (1980) and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982) and she has also made hundreds of television appearances: performing, presenting, in cameo roles playing herself…

Dolly Parton’s Foundation and charity work

For all her riches, Dolly Parton has shown she is keen to give it back, and help others. Dollywood for example, might have closed down had she not stepped in to save it in 1986. Today, it employs 4,500 workers, making it the largest employer in the community.

Then there is Dolly’s numerous charity ventures – mostly conducted through the Dollywood Foundation. These include the Imagination Library which helps and encourages children to learn how to read and write by gifting a book every month from birth until the child enters kindergarten. She has also made many generous donations to worthy causes such as the construction of a cancer hospital, medical centers and wildlife conservation causes.

Dolly Parton residency in Vegas

This week it was announced that Dolly will be performing a limited concert residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas over six nights later this year.

Six shows have been scheduled for December 4, 6, 7, 10, 12 and 13. Tickets go on sale on Wednesday, June 25 at 10 a.m. PT through Ticketmaster.

“To say I’m excited would be an understatement!” the singer said. “I haven’t worked Vegas in years and I’ve always loved singing there. I’m looking so forward to the shows in The Colosseum at Caesars and I hope you are as well. See you there!”