How much money does K-pop supergroup BTS earn in a year? A look at the highest-earning members of the boy band
K-pop has been a prominent genre in the music industry now with a worldwide fanbase. Of them, BTS (Bangtan Boys) have been the most famous who are adored by their fans that go by the name of "BTS Army" or simply "Army".
After breaking into the US pop culture scene in 2012 with a cover of ‘Wham!- Last Christmas,’ BTS has been conquering charts and garnering titles like ‘The princes of Pop’ given by Time Magazine. Their repute and influence have been so vast that the band has been ranked at number 4th in the list of ‘Top Social Artist of the 2010s’ declared by Billboard in 2019.
The supergroup BTS made its debut at No. 43 on the Forbes Celebrity 100 list, taking home $57 million in pretax income as reported by Forbes in 2019 and their 2020 worth stands at $50 million. The band grossed over $170 million on the road in 2019, more than any American band except Metallica though some of their plans for 2020 are hampered due to the coronavirus pandemic ahead of a planned summer stadium tour across the U.S.
What is the source of income?
The group that is worth $3.6 million to South Korea’s economy contributes to a surge in tourism and amplifies the appeal of South Korean products, Business Insider reports. They are expected to bring an astounding $37 billion over the next ten years as per Hyundai Research Institute which further makes us wonder how they amass such wealth. The answer lies in their music, album sales, concerts, merchandise and many brand deals. For instance, their 2019 album ‘Map of the Soul: Persona’ sold nearly 3.9 million copies within a month and set a record in South Korea.
With such an amazing response, the group has landed in several endorsement deals and partnerships with reputed brands like Coca Cola, Hyundai and Puma, Business Insider reports. In 2018, Hyundai made them global brand ambassadors for its new Palisade SUV. BTS then released two concert films that further contributed their cash flow named ‘Burn the Stage’ (2018) that grossed $20 million worldwide and ‘Love Yourself in Seol’ (2019) that brought in $10 million.
How much the members earn?
The band debuted in 2013 and was formed by Big Hit Entertainment. While initially, they struggled for media coverage, the band made a connection with fans with their unconventional approach through social media presence. It is this loyal fandom that today connects to them despite language and cultural barriers. With their support, the band went on to amass $770 million shares out of the $2 billion worth of the Big Hit Entertainment. The talented band members -V, Jungkook, Jimin, SUGA, RM, J-Hope, and Jin individually contribute to the making of the influential band. So definitely, their individual net worth is worth pondering.
Entertainment website Seventeen mentions the net worth of each of the members and the ways they have invested that wealth. It reports, Jin, who has a net worth of $8 million makes money off producing and writing credits on some of BTS's albums. This is in addition to the music releases and touring. He also ventured into the food industry by opening a Japanese Style eatery in South Korea with his brother.
At $12 million, J-Hope is the member of the group with the highest net worth who, besides the band earnings, also makes money through his solo mixtape ‘Hope World’.
Band leader RM with a reported $8 million net worth earns primarily with writing credits which have clinched to over 130 songs by now. His solo projects have also included a single for the Korean soundtrack of the movie ‘Fantastic Four’. Jimin who is BTS’s formally trained dancer has a net worth of around $8 million and earns mainly through BTS's projects, including their album, ‘Map of the Soul: Persona’. Member V with a net worth of $8 million earns from writing credits. He is also branched into acting, and was seen in a supporting role in the historical drama ‘Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth’. Jungkook with a net worth of about $8 million hares producing credits on some of the BTS’s music. He has appeared on several South Korean TV shows like ‘Flower Crew’ and ‘Celebrity Bromance’.
Lastly, Suga has a net worth of around $8 million from BTS's music. He has also composed songs for artists including Suran and Lee So-ra. His writing and producing credits can be found on more than 70 songs.