Garth Brooks is more than just a country music superstar — he is a cultural phenomenon whose impact stretches across decades and borders. With a staggering net worth of $400 million as of 2025, Brooks stands as one of the highest-earning and most influential artists in the history of music. This figure includes the combined wealth of his wife, fellow country legend Trisha Yearwood. However, a significant portion — approximately $300 to $350 million — is directly attributable to Brooks’ solo success.
At 63 years old, Brooks has redefined country music with his high-energy performances and crossover appeal, becoming the best-selling solo artist in U.S. history, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His journey from local Oklahoma bars to sold-out stadiums worldwide is a blueprint for global success in the music industry.
Early Life and Athletic Beginnings
Born Troyal Garth Brooks on February 7, 1962, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Garth grew up in a blended family with five siblings. His father, Troyal Raymond Brooks, worked as a draftsman for an oil company, while his mother, Colleen Carroll, was a professional country singer in the 1950s, even appearing on the TV show Ozark Jubilee. Despite his mother’s musical background, Brooks initially prioritized sports over music. Throughout high school, he excelled in football, baseball, and track and field, eventually earning a track scholarship to Oklahoma State University as a javelin thrower.
Brooks graduated in 1984 with a degree in marketing, a skill set that would later prove valuable in building one of the most successful brands in country music history.
Career Beginnings and Breakthrough
Garth began performing in local Oklahoma bars in 1985, where an entertainment attorney took notice of his raw talent and offered to produce his demo. After a brief and discouraging first trip to Nashville, Brooks returned a second time in 1987 and soon secured a record deal.
His 1989 self-titled debut album introduced him to country audiences, featuring his first #1 hit, If Tomorrow Never Comes. His sophomore effort, No Fences (1990), catapulted him into superstardom. Spending 23 weeks atop the country charts, No Fences included genre-defining tracks like Friends in Low Places and The Thunder Rolls. The album has since become Brooks’ highest-selling project, with over 17 million copies sold in the U.S. alone.
Record-Breaking Success and Global Tours
By 1991, Garth made history with his third album, Ropin’ the Wind, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, a first for a country artist. His dominance on both country and mainstream charts continued with albums like The Chase (1992) and In Pieces (1993), the latter fueling his first world tour and selling out Wembley Arena in London, setting a milestone for American country performers.
In 1995, his album Fresh Horses and the single She’s Every Woman fueled his second world tour, which grossed more than $105 million and played to 5.5 million fans globally. The 1998 release of Double Live — his first live album — further demonstrated his unmatched appeal, eventually achieving multi-platinum status.
Hiatus and Comebacks
In 2000, at the height of his career, Brooks announced his retirement from recording and touring, citing a desire to focus on raising his three daughters. However, his passion for performing never fully waned. In 2007, he returned for a series of nine sold-out concerts in Kansas City, followed by five benefit shows in Los Angeles in 2008.
Brooks resumed performing in Las Vegas in 2009, thanks to a residency deal with casino mogul Steve Wynn. The arrangement allowed him to split his time between Las Vegas and his home in Oklahoma by providing him with a private jet.
In 2014, Brooks formally returned to touring with new music, including Man Against Machine, and in 2016, he released The Ultimate Collection in partnership with Target. His 2018 single All Day Long marked his return to radio ahead of his 2020 album Fun. Notably, Brooks embarked on the ambitious Stadium Tour in 2019, followed by the Dive Bar Tour, where he played intimate venues across the country.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Brooks and Yearwood performed a livestream concert viewed by over five million people on Facebook Live and followed it up with a televised performance on CBS, donating $1 million to relief efforts.
Continued Success and Recent Ventures
In 2020, Brooks hosted a drive-in concert experience broadcast to 300 theaters across North America, adapting his live show energy for a socially distanced world. In 2023, he launched the Garth Brooks/Plus ONE Las Vegas residency at Caesars Palace’s Colosseum, further proving his staying power in the live entertainment space.
Today, Brooks continues to blend traditional country music with arena-level spectacle, remaining one of the highest-paid performers globally. In a peak touring year, Garth can earn upwards of $90 million, making him a perennial fixture on Forbes’ lists of top-earning celebrities.
Personal Life: Family and Relationships
Garth Brooks met his first wife, Sandy Mahl, while attending Oklahoma State University. The two married in 1986 and had three daughters: Taylor, August, and Allie. After 15 years of marriage, Brooks and Mahl finalized their divorce in 2001, with Brooks paying a reported $125 million settlement, ranking among the most expensive celebrity divorces.
In 2005, Brooks married country star Trisha Yearwood. The couple has remained one of country music’s most beloved power duos, frequently collaborating on projects and tours. Brooks became a grandfather in 2013 when his daughter August gave birth to a baby girl named Karalynn.
Real Estate Holdings
Garth Brooks has built an impressive real estate portfolio over the years. He owns homes in Nashville, Tulsa, and Malibu. In 2019, reports surfaced that Brooks and Yearwood purchased the Layby Hotel property on Florida’s Anna Maria Island for $8.825 million. In 2024, the couple sold one of their Nashville homes for $3.34 million, though they still own a custom-built estate on a 300-acre property Brooks purchased in 1990.
A Lasting Legacy
With more than 200 million albums sold globally and six albums certified diamond, Garth Brooks is second only to The Beatles in total U.S. album sales. His enduring popularity, from packed stadiums to record-breaking tours, cements him as a true icon in the world of music. As he continues to break barriers and set records well into his 60s, Brooks’ influence on the genre — and popular culture as a whole — remains unmatched.