Artists rise and fall, but when it comes to the best-selling musicians of all time, the top ranks rarely change. Eminem continues to hold his spot among the all-time greats, standing as the highest-selling hip hop artist ever and the only rapper in the top 10 across all genres.
Top 10 Best-Selling Artists of All Time
1. The Beatles – 519.8 million
2. Michael Jackson – 344.6 million
3. Elvis Presley – 324.6 million
4. Queen – 286.8 million
5. Madonna – 251.8 million
6. The Rolling Stones – 247.1 million
7. Pink Floyd – 241.2 million
8. Taylor Swift – 235.8 million
9. Frank Sinatra – 233.4 million
10. Eminem – 223.2 million
This ranking is based on Chartmasters’ Commensurate Sales to Popularity Concept (CSPC), a methodology that factors in album sales, physical and digital single sales, as well as streaming numbers to give a complete picture of an artist’s true reach. Unlike traditional sales counts, CSPC accounts for modern streaming trends and how they impact long-term popularity.
Eminem broke into the Top 10 in September 2023, surpassing Led Zeppelin, and soon overtook Elton John before being pushed back to No. 10 when Taylor Swift entered the rankings. With a growing lead over Elton John, now 10 million EAS ahead, Eminem is on track to surpass Frank Sinatra in a year or so.
And just as it has been for years, Marshall remains far ahead of other rap artists in total sales. The next closest, Drake, ranks No. 22 with 167.4 million EAS. While Drake dominates streaming, his physical album sales — just 15.8 million worldwide — pale in comparison to Eminem’s 99.1 million.
With a career spanning decades and an ever-growing influence, Eminem’s impact on music history is undeniable, and his numbers continue to prove it.
