What is Rick Allen's Net Worth?
Rick Allen is an English drummer who has a net worth of $50 million. Rick Allen has served as the drummer of the rock band Def Leppard since 1978. One of the best-selling musical acts in the world, the band's hit songs include "Photograph," "Rock of Ages," "Love Bites," "Pour Some Sugar on Me," and "Let's Get Rocked." Notably, Allen plays with just his right arm, as he had his left arm amputated in 1985 following injuries sustained in a car crash.
Early Life
Rick Allen was born on November 1, 1963 in Dronfield, Derbyshire, England to Kathleen and Geoffrey. He became interested in music early in life, and took up the drums when he was nine. Growing up, Allen played in the bands Grad, Smokey Blue, Rampant, and the Johnny Kalendar Band.
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Def Leppard
When Allen was only 14 years old, his mother replied on his behalf to an ad placed by the rock band Def Leppard, which was seeking a drummer to replace the recently departed Tony Kenning. On his 15th birthday, Allen officially joined the band, and in 1979 he left school to play with Def Leppard full-time. He was originally joined in the group by lead vocalist Joe Elliott, bassist Rick Savage, and guitarists Steve Clark and Pete Willis. With that lineup, Def Leppard released its debut studio album, "On Through the Night," in 1980. The album performed well in the UK, but failed to make a mark elsewhere. Def Leppard released its second studio album, "High 'n' Dry," in 1981. Although not a huge success, it reached number 26 on the UK Albums Chart and number 38 on the Billboard 200, and spawned the popular song "Bringin' On the Heartbreak." The band had greater success with its next album, "Pyromania," which came out in early 1983. Reaching number two on the Billboard 200, the album launched the hit singles "Photograph" and "Rock of Ages." However, it was Def Leppard's fourth studio album, "Hysteria," that truly launched the band to superstardom. Released in 1987, the album topped the charts in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia, and went on to sell over 30 million copies worldwide. It spawned six hit singles, including "Love Bites," "Pour Some Sugar on Me," and "Animal."
With Steve Clark having passed away in 1991, Def Leppard recorded its fifth studio album, "Adrenalize," with just four members. Another number-one album in the UK, US, and Australia, it launched the hit singles "Let's Get Rocked" and "Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad." Soon after that album, guitarist Vivian Campbell joined the band. Def Leppard went on to release the compilation album "Retro Active" in 1993 and the greatest-hits album "Vault" in 1995; both were commercial successes. The group followed those two in 1996 with the studio album "Slang." Def Leppard closed out the decade with "Euphoria," its seventh studio album. Next came "X," which was released in 2002. The band's subsequent albums were "Yeah!" (2006), "Songs from the Sparkle Lounge" (2008), and "Def Leppard" (2015). After a nearly seven-year break from recording, Def Leppard released its 12th studio album, "Diamond Star Halos," in the spring of 2022. It went on to become the band's best-selling album in 30 years. After another break from recording, the group released the song "Just Like 73" in mid-2024, and teased the release of a 13th studio album sometime in the future.
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Car Crash
On New Year's Eve, 1984, Allen was involved in a serious car crash while riding with his then-girlfriend Miriam Barendsen in the countryside near Sheffield. The incident occurred after a car in front of theirs kept deliberately slowing down and speeding up as he tried to pass, which went on for several miles. Frustrated, Allen accelerated, but lost control of his Corvette C4 and hit a dry stone wall. His left arm became entangled in the seatbelt and was severed as Allen was launched from the vehicle. Although doctors were able to reattach the arm, it soon became infected and had to be amputated. Allen felt despondent after the incident, but was encouraged by family, friends, and fans of his to keep going. He ultimately returned to Def Leppard to continue playing drums, using an electronic drum kit specially designed for his needs. Later, Allen was able to return to playing partially acoustic drum kits.
Charity
With his wife Lauren Monroe, Allen co-founded the charitable Raven Drum Foundation. He also created the One Hand Drum Company to help fund the Foundation. The organization sells merchandise featuring an illustrated character named Stick Rick, who is based on Allen.
Personal Life
Allen was married to his first wife, Stacy Gilbert, from 1991 to 2000. In 1995, he was arrested for spousal abuse and was sentenced to a work crew. Allen later married fellow musician Lauren Monroe.
