Which Spice Girl is richest?
The Spice Girls dominated the 90s music scene, propelling band members Geri Halliwell, Melanie Chisholm, Melanie Brown, Victoria Adams (now Beckham), and Emma Bunton to international fame and fortune.
Recently, the girls reunited in London to celebrate Victoria Beckham's 50th birthday, with the group performing their hit songStoptogether at the bash. However, this is just the start of their epic comeback...
With the 30th anniversary of the group's formation upon us, an upcoming Netflix documentary will explore the story behind the iconic girl band, with each Spice reportedly standing to earn a juicy $1.2 million (£940k) for participating. Meanwhile, all five girls are tipped to perform together at Glastonbury 2025, after Mel C made a surprise appearance onstage with Orbital at this year's bash.
In light of all this exciting news from Spice World,read on to learn more about the band's sensational rise to fame, their shocking split, and how they make their money today.
All dollar amountsin US dollars
Spice Mania
The story begins in 1993when an advert was placed in a magazine withthe hope of forming a girl group that could rival reigning British boy bandsTake That and East 17. Among the hundreds of women who responded, five hopefuls stood out: Geri Halliwell, Melanie "Mel C"Chisholm, Melanie "Mel B" Brown, Victoria Adams, and Emma Bunton. The Spice Girls were born.
By 1995, the Spice Girls had landed a life-changing deal with Virgin Records. The following year, their debut single Wannabeconquered the charts in over 30 countries, while their album Spice sold an incredible 19 million copies in its first 12 months.
That same year, Top of the Pops magazine gave the girls their now iconic nicknames: Ginger (Geri), Sporty (Mel C), Scary (Mel B), Posh (Victoria), and Baby (Emma). The Spice Girls and their fansembraced these labels, igniting Spice Mania and ushering in a new musical eraswiftly christened"Girl Power".
A shock split
The following year, the Spice Girls released their second album, Spiceworld, which peaked at number one on the UKcharts. Accompanying the chart-topping album was the comedy flick Spice World: The Movie, which waspanned by critics but adored by fans.
With two number one records and a movie under their belts, the Spice Girls seemed unstoppable. However, in May 1998their trajectory took an unexpected turn when Geri Halliwell suddenly quit the band in the middle of the group's Spiceworld Tour.
Now a quartet, the band released their final album, Forever,in 2000.Despite the record reaching number two inthe UK charts, the Spice Girls announced their shock split the following year, leaving fans devastated.
Spice Girl reunions
Over the years, the Spice Girls have delighted fans with a number of reunions. Their 2007-2008 comebackwas marked by a tour and a Greatest Hits album that soared to number two on the UK album charts.
Fast forward to 2019, and all the band members– bar Posh – embarked on a tour across the UK and Ireland. In total, itsold an impressive 700,000 tickets and generated an impressive $78.2 million in revenue, the equivalent of $96.1 million (£76m) in today's money.
Despite not participating, Victoria still netted aninflation-adjusted$3.1 million (£2.5m) from the 2019 tour thanksto her share of the band's earnings from endorsem*nts, merchandise, and licensingdeals.
Each Spice Girlembarked on asolo career in between these epic reunions. But which Spice became the richest after the band broke up? Read on to find out...
Scary Spice: $6 million (£4.8m)
Melanie "Mel B" Brown earnedher "Scary Spice" nickname thanks toher feisty presence within the group.
Before skyrocketing to fame with the Spice Girls, Mel studied performing arts at Intake High School in Leeds, followed by a stint as a professional dancer.
Over the years, she's amassed an estimated fortune of $6 million (£4.8m), which, while substantial, lagsbehind that of her bandmates. But more on that later – first, let's delve into how she earned her millions post-Spice Girls...
Scary Spice: $6 million (£4.8m)
While still with the Spice Girls, Mel B collaborated withR&B star Missy Elliott on the songI Want You Back, with thetrack reaching number one on the UK charts in 1998.
In 2000, shedebuted her solo albumHot. This was followed up with 2005'sL.A. State of Mind, which featured her hit songToday.
Although Mel B enjoyed moderate success when she struck out on her own, she failed to rival her glory days with the Spice Girls. She ended her solo career after just two albums.
Scary Spice: $6 million (£4.8m)
Today, Mel B is probably best known as a bubbly TV personality.
She's served as a judge onthe UK and Australian versions ofThe X Factorandco-hostedthe Australian version of Dancing with the Starsin 2012.
Stateside, she served as a judge on the reality TV series America's Got Talent between 2013 and 2018, reportedly receiving a juicy $2.7 millionfor her participation in the 2018 edition of the show, the equivalent of $3.4 million (£2.7m) in 2024 money.
Scary Spice: $6 million (£4.8m)
The candid Spice Girl has spoken openly about the struggles she's faced, including the domestic abuse she's suffered.
Today, Mel B is a fierce advocate for mental health awareness, actively campaigns against domestic violence, and has collaborated with the UK charity Women's Aid.
In 2018, she penned a heart-wrenching autobiography titled Brutally Honest,in which she delved into her "living nightmare" marriage to film producer Stephen Belafonte.
Scary Spice: $6 million (£4.8m)
In 2017, the world was shocked whenMel B's financial struggles were revealedin court.
After a judge ordered Mel B to pay her ex-husband Stephen Belafonte $40,000per month ($51k/£43k today) in spousal support, it emerged she'd blown through most of the $30 million (£24m) fortune she'd earned at the peak of her career. She reportedly had just $1,300 ($1.7k/£1.3k today) left in her bank account.
Despite earning a monthly income of $240,000 ($308k/£244k today) from America's Got Talent and holding a 20% share of Spice Girls Limited, Mel B's net income in 2017 was a negative $3.2 million. This was mainly due to legal expenses and sizeable debts, including $100,000 ($128k/£101k today) of credit card debt and $800,000 ($1m/£791k today) owed in taxes.
She's pictured here with Belafonte.
Scary Spice: $6 million (£4.8m)
Forced to sell her Hollywood mansionto meet her financial obligations in 2017, the starmoved back to her hometown of Leeds in 2019, where she rented a luxury home. However, due to financial troubles caused bylegal fees and payments to her ex-husband, Mel B was forced to move back in with her mother (pictured together here).
She told theBBC: "I wasn't just emotionally and physically abused, there was all the financial abuse too. I didn't realise that I didn't have as much money as I thought I had. So I literally had to eat humble pie, live with my mum."
Mel B announced earlier this year that she had purchased her own home."I've been looking at houses on and off for the last couple of years, knowing I didn't have the money to afford them," she told theBBC. "But I just put my head down, worked, and lived frugally, and hence I've been able to buy my own house."
Sporty Spice: $30 million (£24m)
Melanie "Mel C"Chisholm was givenher Sporty Spice nicknamedue to her love of athleticattire and impressivedance moves, including backflips and high kicks.
Before joining the Spice Girls, Mel C had honed her performance skills by studyingmusical theatre, singing, dance, and drama in London.
With an estimated net worth of $30 million (£24m), let's delve into how she amassed her fortune post-Spice Girls...
Sporty Spice: $30 million (£24m)
Mel C launched her solo career in 1999 with the release of her debut album, Northern Star. It peaked at number four on the UK album chart and is the best-selling solo album by any Spice Girl. In 2003, she dropped her next album,Reason, which achievedgold certification.
The songstressleft Virgin Records to start her own music label, Red Girl Records, in 2004. She's released several other albums, includingBeautiful Intentions,This Time,The Sea,Stages, andVersion of Me.
Mel Ccontinues to perform on stages around the world as a solo artist, including that previously mentioned appearance at this year's Glastonbury Festival.
Sporty Spice: $30 million (£24m)
Mel C has also carved out a successful small screen career, appearing as a host, judge, and mentor on numerous reality TV competitions.
This includes actingas a mentor on The X Factor Australia in 2011 and a stint as a judge on the talent show Superstar in 2012.
Recently, sheserved as a coach on The Voice Kids UK in 2021 andcompeted in the 30th season of Dancing with the Starslater that same year.
Sporty Spice: $30 million (£24m)
The multi-talented star has also ventured into acting, makingher stage debut in 2009 in the musical Blood Brothers.
Most notably, she starred as Mary Magdalene in aproduction of Jesus Christ Superstar between 2012 and 2013. An almost unrecognisable Mel C is pictured here in costume for the role.
Sporty Spice: $30 million (£24m)
Over the years, Mel C has put her fame to good use. A passionate philanthropist, she's participated in fundraising events for renowned UK charities includingSport Relief and Comic Relief.
In 2014, the kind-hearted Spice travelled to Ghana to supporta Procter & Gamble charity campaignstriving to provide clean drinking water for children.
Sporty Spice: $30 million (£24m)
According toreports, Mel C currently lives in London. Fans were given a rare glimpse into Mel's plush city pad in 2022 when she appeared on the reality TV show Celebrity Gogglebox alongside her half-brother, the former race car driver Paul O'Neill (pictured).
Mel's appearance on the show revealed that her living room features stylish built-in bookshelves and a sophisticated white, grey, and blush colour palette. She likes her home comforts, revealingduring a 2020 interview withThe Strategistthat she couldn't live without herluxe Egyptian cotton bed sheets and pricey Peloton exercise bike.
Baby Spice: $30 million (£24m)
Emma Bunton earned the nickname Baby Spice for two reasons. She was the youngest member of the band, and it also suited her sweet girl-next-door personality.
Before becoming one of the Spice Girls, Emma worked as an actress andmade brief appearancesin beloved British TV shows such as soap opera EastEnders and crime seriesThe Bill.
Like her bandmate Mel C, Emma boasts an impressive net worth of $30 million (£24m), so let's explore how she amassed her wealth when the Spice Girls split...
Baby Spice: $30 million (£24m)
Emma launched her solo career in 2001 with the release of her debut album, A Girl Like Me, which quickly achieved gold certification.
Thesongstress has released four studio albums, with her most recent offering the 2019 pop record My Happy Place.
Despite several of her singles charting well in the UK, her solo career never reached the same heights of success as the Spice Girls.
Baby Spice: $30 million (£24m)
Baby Spice has further boosted her fortune with appearances on numerous TV shows.
In 2006,she showcased her dance skills on the BritishStrictly Come Dancingcompetition.
She's also served as a judge on reality TV shows including Dancing on Iceand Your Face Sounds Familiar, and she appeared as a contestant in the 2022 series ofThe Circle.
Baby Spice: $30 million (£24m)
Emma has returned to her dramatic roots in recent years, notably playinga version of herself inTV comedy Absolutely Fabulousand its 2016 movie adaptation.
Other significant roles include voicing a character in Disney's The Lion Guard series in 2016 and portraying Catherine Parr on Drunk History: UK.
Between 2013 and 2018, she hosted radio station Heart London's Monday-to-FridayHeart Breakfastslot alongside Jamie Theakston. She still hosts a Sunday evening show with the network.
Baby Spice: $30 million (£24m)
One of Emma'srecent money-spinning endeavours was penning the parenting guideMama You Got This in 2021. The book, which is full of expert advice as well as personal anecdotes from Emma herself, quickly became a bestseller.
On that note, the proud mother shares sonsBeau and Tatewith her husband, the British R&B singer Jade Jones (pictured together).
Baby Spice: $30 million (£24m)
Emma keeps her private life strictly on the down-low, so little is known about how she splashes her cash.
However, we do know that she and her family live in North London, with Emmaoccasionally offering fans a glimpse into her home via her Instagram account.
She's shownhere with Jade in their kitchen; the photo was shared on Instagram last year topromoteKit & Kin, the plant-based household product brand that sheco-founded in 2017.
Ginger Spice: $40 million (£32m)
Geri Halliwell became known as Ginger Spice thanks to her vibrant red hair and firecracker personality.
Before rising to fame with the band, Geri worked as a nightclub dancer in Spain andalso posed asa glamour model.
Geri's estimated net worth today is $40 million (£32m). Let's explore how she's built up her fortune after her Spice Girl days...
Ginger Spice: $40 million (£32m)
After sensationally quitting the Spice Girls in 1998, Geri released her debut solo album,Schizophonic,in 1999. The recordbecame a major success, selling more than two million copies globally.
Geri followed this up with 2001's Scream If You Wanna Go Faster. That same year, she also released a cover of the 80s pop hit It's Raining Men,originally performed by the Weather Girls. Herrendition of the song proved so popularit was used in the 2001 rom-com Bridget Jones's Diary and toppedcharts worldwide.
Despite her success as a solo artist, Geri released her third and final album, Passion, in 2005.
Ginger Spice: $40 million (£32m)
The multi-talented Spice Girl has dabbled in acting over the years, making her official debut in a 2003 episode of Sex and the City.
Since then, Geri has flexed her dramatic chops in comedy flicks and action movies. Most recently, shelanded a role in the 2023 action flick Gran Turismo, where she shared the screen with Hollywood hotshots David Harbour and Orlando Bloom.
Ginger Spice: $40 million (£32m)
Like her bandmates, Geri has also penned a number of books. Her first venture into the world of publishing was her 1999 autobiographyIf Only.Rather than profiting from her life story, Geri reportedly donated all the royaltiesto a breast cancer charity. This was followed by a second book about her life,Just for the Record,released in 2003.
In 2008, she launched the Ugenia Lavender series of children's books, which followthe adventures of a nine-year-old girl. Less than six months after hitting bookstores, the series had sold more than 250,000 copies, making Geri one of the best-selling children's authors of that year.
Ginger Spice: $40 million (£32m)
The savvy Spice Girl has also boosted her bank balance with a series of successful side hustles over the years.
Among them are fashion ventures, including a swimwear collection with British high street fashion brand Next, and a foray into fitness withthe release of several yoga workout DVDs.
Ginger Spice: $40 million (£32m)
In 2015, Geri married Christian Horner, the team principal of the Red Bull Racing Formula One team. The couple share a son named Montague, while Geri also has a daughter named Bluebell from a previous relationship with the film director Sacha Gervasi.
A former race car driver turned team manager, Horner is worth an estimated $50 million (£41m), though some sources suggestthe couplemight actually have a combined fortune of around $556million (£440m).
Either way, the cashed-up couple own two lavish countryside estates, one in Oxfordshire and one inHertfordshire. Their sprawling Oxfordshire residence is particularly impressive, with Geri regularly sharing glimpses of it on her Instagram account. The lavishproperty boasts its own farm, complete with donkeys, horses, ducks, and goats, as well as a private pond for boating and a swimming pool.
Posh Spice: $563 million (£455m)
Victoria Beckham was christened Posh Spice due to her sophisticated persona and love of designer outfits.
Born Victoria Adams, she studied dance and modelling before rising to international fame with the Spice Girls.
According to the 2024edition of theSunday Times Rich List, Victoria and her soccer icon husband David Beckham boast a combined fortune of $563 million (£455m).
Posh Spice: $563 million (£455m)
Like her fellow Spice Girls, Victoria Beckham pursued a solo music career shortly after the band broke up.
Her 2000 dance track Out of Your Mind,a collaboration with True Steppers and Dane Bowers, peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart.
The following year, Victoria released her eponymous debut album. Something of a flop, it markedthe end of her fleeting solocareer.
Posh Spice: $563 million (£455m)
While her solo music career didn't take off quite as expected, Victoria was hugely successful in the modelling world.
Over the years, the fashion icon has graced the covers of many prestigious magazines, including Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Elle.
Following in the footsteps of her husband David, she also starred in a sizzling underwear campaign for the luxury fashion house Armani in 2009.
Posh Spice: $563 million (£455m)
The star has further grown her fortune with several side hustles over the years.
In 2001, Victoria released her autobiography, Learning to Fly, chronicling her rise to stardom. The famed fashionista followed that up in 2006 with a style bible titled That Extra Half an Inch: Hair, Heels, and Everything in Between.
Victoria's empire also includesperfume, and both her and Davidreleasedtheir ownsignature fragrances back in 2008.
Posh Spice: $563 million (£455m)
Victoria is probably best known today for her eponymous fashion line. Her designs are a staple on Fashion Week runways around the globe, with her pieces worn by stars including Beyoncé and Kate Middleton. However, the venture isn’t the money-maker you might think...
Recent accounts revealed the fashion line lost almost $7 million (£5.9m)in 2021 and $11 million(£8.6m) in 2020. In fact, the business has recorded losses of around $82 million(£66m) since its 2008 launch.
It's also been reported that the fashion line racked up debts of $67 million (£53m)to lenders following the pandemic's strain on the retail industry.However, things now appear to be on the up and the fashion label recorded a modest $253,000 (£200k) profit in 2022following a significant upturn in revenues.
Posh Spice: $563 million (£455m)
Posh Spice enjoys a life of luxury,andthe Beckhams, a bona fide power couple,own a number of enviablehomes around the world.
Their property portfolio includesa chic mansion in London’s swish Holland Park neighbourhood, which they snapped up for $39 millionin 2013 ($53m/£42m today), and a regal country estate in the Cotswolds.
Additionally, the couple owns a $24 million (£19m) penthouse in Miami. This stunning US residenceboasts arooftop helipad, ahome gym, and multiple terraces that offer breathtaking views of the city skyline and coastline. Talk about Posh...
Now delve deeper into the world of Victoria, David, and their children with a look inside thelavish lives of the Beckham family
