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It is estimated that up to a quarter of Sting’s entire fortune comes from one song. Even more extraordinary is the fact that the amount is so huge because a sample was used without initial permission, which gave the Police icon the legal power to sue. Diddy famously had a worldwide hit with it, helped by the use of an instantly recognisable guitar riff and chorus, but hasn’t seen a penny from it because his actions forced him to hand over the song’s entire revenue after it was released – and ever since.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, the Desert Rose singer is worth a staggering $550million (£493million), and a large chunk of that comes from the enormous amount he receives from his fellow musician.
Diddy spoke up this week to confirm the reports that he has to hand over thousands every day for his use of The Police’s 1983 hit Every Breath You Take. The guitar riff and chorus feature heavily on the rapper’s 1997 smash I’ll Be Missing You, which was a tribute to his killed friend Notorious B.I.G. Even the title is a line from the sampled track.
I’ll Be Missing You, featuring vocals from the murdered rapper’s widow Faith Evans, topped charts across the world and is one of the best-selling singles of all time.
If those originally estimates are taken from the year I’ll be Missing You was released, that has amounted to a staggering, $18,980,000 so far (£15,180,000).
However, yesterday, Diddy commented: “Nope. 5K a day. Love to my brother.”
That would mean he has potentially so far handed over $47,500,00 (£38,140,000).
Summers, meanwhile, has received nothing for that hypnotic guitar riff on I’ll Be Missing You, calling it: “The major rip-off of all time.”
The Police guitarist added: “It’s very flattering. I guess everybody likes it…” And pointed out that he is the only member of teh band who is featured at all: “Stewart [Copeland]’s not on it. Sting’s not on it. I’d be walking around Tower Records, and the f***ing thing would be playing over and over.”
These days, Diddy’s money does not go directly to Sting. The icon sold his back catalogue of hits to Universal Music Publishing Group for $300million (£221million) last year.
This includes songs from his time with The Police as well as music from his solo career. Combined, he is estimated to have sold over 100million records in just over 50 years.
