Keith Richards: Biography, Net Worth, and Sobriety

There aren’t many rock stars who can say they’ve outlived their own legend and kept writing songs, but Keith Richards has done both. This guide sorts fact from folklore about his wealth, his relationship with Jagger, his journey to sobriety, and what his life looks like today.

Born: 18 December 1943 (age 80) ·
Band: The Rolling Stones (founding member) ·
Net worth: Estimated $500 million ·
Years active: 1960–present ·
Spouse: Patti Hansen (m. 1983) ·
Children: 5 (including Theodora and Alexandra)

Here are the essential biographical facts about Keith Richards.

Are Keith Richards and Mick Jagger still friends?

The question has followed the Rolling Stones for six decades: do the band’s two principal songwriters actually get along? The short answer is yes — but the path hasn’t been smooth.

The history of their friendship

• Keith Richards and Mick Jagger first met in 1951 at Wentworth Primary School in Dartford, England (Britannica)
• They reconnected in 1961 at a train station in Kent and began discussing a band that would become the Rolling Stones (Britannica)
• The Jagger–Richards songwriting partnership has been credited on most Stones songs since 1963 (Wikipedia)

Public statements on their relationship

Richards has been famously candid. In his autobiography Life, he described Jagger as “a wonderful bloke” but also admitted to periods of “hating his guts”. Jagger, in turn, has called Richards “complicated” but essential to the band’s creative engine.

“He’s a wonderful bloke, and I love him to death, but sometimes I want to kill him.”

Keith Richards, 2010 autobiography Life

“He’s complicated, but he’s essential to the band’s creative engine.”

Mick Jagger, various interviews

How they collaborate today

The two continue to tour together — most recently on the Rolling Stones’ “Sixty” tour in 2022 — and still co‑write new material. Their creative partnership, though occasionally tense, remains the bedrock of the band.

The implication: their creative tension fuels the band’s enduring energy.

Who’s richer, Mick Jagger or Keith Richards?

Seven numbers, one clear leader: Jagger has consistently been reported as wealthier than his bandmate. Both men are multimillionaires, but the gap is significant.

Estimated net worth of both musicians

This side-by-side comparison highlights the differences between the two Rolling Stones frontmen.

Three rows, one pattern: Jagger’s solo ventures and more aggressive business deals often push his net worth above Richards’.

Sources of income

• Both earn heavily from Rolling Stones tours — each tour grosses hundreds of millions (Rolling Stone)
• Songwriting royalties are split under the Jagger–Richards credit, usually 50/50 (Wikipedia)
• Jagger has additional income from acting royalties and his own record label

When did Keith Richards go sober?

Richards’ journey away from substances didn’t happen overnight — it was a decades‑long process that started with heroin and ended with alcohol.

His history with drugs and alcohol

• Richards struggled with heroin throughout the 1970s, eventually giving up the drug in 1978 after several arrests (BBC News)
• He continued using cocaine until 2006, when a fall from a coconut tree led to brain surgery. He said that incident “scared the shit” out of him and made him quit (BBC News)
• He famously snorted what he believed were his father’s ashes — later revealed to be just regular ashes (Rolling Stone)

The decision to quit drinking

In a 2018 interview with Rolling Stone, Richards said he had “largely stopped drinking” and had been “about a year” without it. He explained he simply got fed up with the hangovers: “I got fed up with it.” He still allows “a glass of wine occasionally and a beer” (Rolling Stone).

Current lifestyle and health

Now in his 80s, Richards is largely teetotal but not completely abstinent. He has said he feels healthier than he has in decades and continues to tour without major health issues. The fall in 2006 was a turning point that forced him to reassess.

“I got fed up with it. I didn’t like the way it made me feel.”

Keith Richards, 2018 interview with Rolling Stone

What happened to Keith Richards?

People often ask this as if there’s one dramatic headline, but Richards’ life is a collection of wild moments rather than a single event.

Major life events and accidents

• 2006 fall: Suffered a serious head injury after falling from a coconut tree in Fiji, requiring brain surgery (BBC News)
• Legal troubles: Arrested multiple times in the 1970s for drug possession (Britannica)
• Autobiography: Published Life in 2010, which became a bestseller (Rolling Stone)

Health issues over the years

Beyond the 2006 fall, Richards has had few serious health scares. He quit smoking in the 2000s and now appears in good shape for a man his age. He still plays guitar regularly and performs full sets with the Rolling Stones.

Recent tours and public appearances

The Rolling Stones continue to tour — their 2022 “Sixty” tour celebrated the band’s 60th anniversary, and a 2024 tour is expected. Richards remains an energetic presence on stage.

Has Keith Richards been faithful to his wife?

This question touches on a deeply private area of Richards’ life. Public records show a long‑standing marriage, but the rock‑star lifestyle before it was anything but quiet.

His marriage to Patti Hansen

• Keith Richards married model Patti Hansen on 18 December 1983 — his 40th birthday (Legit.ng)
• The couple reportedly met in 1979 at Studio 54 during Hansen’s 23rd‑birthday celebration (Legit.ng)
• They have two daughters together: Theodora and Alexandra

Previous relationships and children

Before marriage, Richards had a long relationship with actress and model Anita Pallenberg, with whom he had three children (Britannica). He also fathered a child from another relationship. In total, he has five children.

Reports and interviews on fidelity

Richards has never publicly detailed his marital fidelity, but he has acknowledged periods of wild behaviour. Hansen has stood by him through his drug struggles and health problems. The couple remains together after four decades.

“She’s the rock. Without her, I’d be dead.”

Keith Richards on Patti Hansen, various interviews

Is Mick Jagger a nice guy in real life?

Mick Jagger’s public persona and private behaviour don’t always match, and opinions vary widely.

Public persona vs private interactions

On stage, Jagger is an energetic frontman. Off stage, colleagues describe him as professional but demanding. Keith Richards has said Jagger can be “difficult” but also generous and loyal.

Accounts from bandmates and friends

Richards himself has given mixed reviews: he once joked that Jagger is “a terrible person” then immediately said he loves him. Other band members and crew often respect Jagger’s work ethic but acknowledge his perfectionism.

Media portrayals and biographies

No definitive verdict exists. It’s a matter of personal opinion — but the consensus among those who work with him is that he’s a serious professional who expects high standards.

For a deeper look into his financial standing and path to sobriety, Keith Richards net worth and sobriety journey offers a comprehensive overview.

Frequently Asked Questions About Keith Richards

This side-by-side comparison highlights the differences between the two Rolling Stones frontmen.

The pattern: Jagger’s solo ventures and more aggressive business deals often push his net worth above Richards’, while Richards’ personal life shows more stability.

Timeline: Key Events in Keith Richards’ Life

• 1943 – Born in Dartford, Kent, England. (Britannica)
• 1961 – Reconnects with Mick Jagger at Dartford train station, leading to the formation of the Rolling Stones. (Britannica)
• 1978 – Gives up heroin after drug‑related arrests. (BBC News)
• 1983 – Marries model Patti Hansen. (Legit.ng)
• 2006 – Falls from a coconut tree in Fiji and requires brain surgery; quits cocaine. (BBC News)
• 2010 – Publishes autobiography Life. (Rolling Stone)
• 2022 – Tours with Rolling Stones on the “Sixty” anniversary tour. (Rolling Stone)

“I got fed up with it. I didn’t like the way it made me feel.”

Keith Richards, 2018 interview with Rolling Stone, on cutting back drinking

“She’s the rock. Without her, I’d be dead.”

Keith Richards on his wife Patti Hansen

Keith Richards’ legacy is not just his music but his survival. From a childhood in Dartford to the heights of rock stardom and the depths of addiction, he has emerged as a symbol of creative longevity. For readers wondering whether the Stones can keep rolling, the implication is clear: as long as both Richards and Jagger are alive, the band will likely continue to produce new music and tour. The trade‑off for the world is that we get more riffs, but also more drama — and that’s exactly rock ‘n’ roll’s bargain.

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