Born Göran Bror Benny Andersson on the 16th December 1946 in Vällingby, Sweden, Benny is a musician, composer and songwriter, best known to the world as a part of one of the best-selling pop groups ever – Abba – among many other differing achievements. His career started in the 1960s.
Have you ever wondered how rich Benny Andersson is, as of early 2017? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Andersson’s net worth is as high as $230 million, an amount earned through his successful career in the music industry. Apart from being a part of Abba, Benny has also worked on his own, which has also improved his wealth.
Benny Andersson Net Worth $230 Million
Benny was a son to Gösta Andersson, a civil engineer and his wife Laila. His father and grandfather were both musicians, and from an early age turned Benny towards music. He got his first accordion when he was six years old, and soon started learning to play Swedish folk music, traditional and schalger compositions. Once he turned ten, his parents got him a piano, which he learned to play on his own. Five years later, he dropped out of school and began playing in local youth clubs. Slowly Benny’s name became more known, and with his then girlfriend Christina Grönvall, became a part of “Elverkets Spelmanslag” (“The Electricity Board Folk Music Group”). However, that didn’t last long as he soon joined the Hep Stars as a keyboardist, being a part of the band until 1969, and with whom Benny launched his songwriting career, creating such hits as “Cadillac”, “No Response”, “Sunny Girl”, “She Will Love You” and “Consolation” among many others.
Back in 1966 he met and befriended Björn Ulvaeus and the two hit it off with a collaboration song “Isn’t It Easy To Say”, which the Hep Stars recorded as their own. The two continued to work closely, and after a while the two met vocalists Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Agnetha Fältskog. Benny dated Anni-Frid Lyngstad, while Björn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Fältskog became closer and eventually the two also became a couple. Their personal relationship led to professional collaboration in the way of ABBA.
Their debut studio album came out in 1973, entitled “Ring Ring”, which reached No. 2 on the Sweden charts, and achieved triple platinum status in Australia. In 1974 they won the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Waterloo”, and from then until the early ‘80s dominated the world pop music scene. Their albums “Waterloo” (1974), “ABBA” (1975), “Arrival” (1976), “ABBA: The Album” (1977), “Voulez-Vous” (1979), “Super Trouper” (1980) and “The Visitors” (1981), all topped the Swedish charts, and also reached No. 1 on the charts across the world, including Germany, Norway, United Kingdom, Australia and many other countries. According to some estimates, ABBA has sold over 500 million album copies, which certainly increased Benny’s net worth. Some of their most notable songs include “SOS”, “Mamma Mia”, “Dancing Queen”, “Money, Money, Money”, “The Winner Takes It All” among many others. The group never officially broke up, however, they stopped recording in 1982.
According to recent reports, the four original members reunited, and are working on a new recording, and possibly performances, of which further details will be available later in 2017.
After ABBA, Benny continued to work as a songwriter and composer, collaborating with numerous musicians such as Orsa Spelmän, Josefin Nilsson, Gustaf Sjökvists Kammarkör, while also writing music for films and musicals, “Chess”, “Mamma Mia!” – which features 24 songs by ABBA – and many others.
Benny also released several albums with his band, called Benny Anderssons orkester, which consists of 16 musicians. Nine albums have been released so far, including “Benny Anderssons orkester” (2001), “Story of a Heart” (2009), and “BAO in Box” (2012), among others, the sales of which have added to his wealth.
Thanks to his successful career, Benny has received numerous prestigious awards, including becoming a member of Royal Swedish Academy of Music, and induction into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 2010 as a part of ABBA.
Regarding his personal life, Benny has two children with his ex-fiancé Christina Grönvall, including son Peter who is also a musician. Then, he was married to Anni-Frid Lyngstad from 1978 until 1980. His second wife in Mona Nörklit; the couple married in 1981 and has one child together, Ludvig, who also has his own band.
