Taylor Swift to The Weeknd: Chart-topping songs by Max Martin that have padded his incredible net worth

Max Martin may not be a name many music lovers are familiar with. Yet, his work pervades the work of musicians across genres. To date, the 53-year-old songwriter, producer, and singer has worked with some of the most popular artists of our time, from pop royals Taylor Swift and Britney Spears to Coldplay and The Weeknd. With multiple top-charting hits under his belt, here are some things to know about Max Martin, his career, best songs, and how they have contributed to his burgeoning net worth. 

It would shock you to learn that many key people behind your favourite songs maintain low-key lives, remaining largely anonymous despite finding global success. Max Martin is one such example. Despite having co-writing and producing credits on smash hits the likes of Swift’s “Shake It Off”, NSYNC’s “It’s Gonna Be Me”, Backstreet Boys’ “I Want it That Way” and Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life”, the Swedish songwriter, producer, and singer is not a name known by many casual listeners of music.

However, his work has been consistently excellent, and within his peers in the music industry, Martin is known as an exceptional talent of incredible calibre who has worked with some of the biggest stars of our age. 

Who is Max Martin? 

Born Karl Martin Sandberg on February 26 1971, Max Martin was raised in Stenhamra, a small locality in Stockholm County’s Ekerö Municipality with a population of 3,336 as recorded in 2010. As a child, Martin’s earliest encounters with music came when he studied under Sweden’s public music-education scheme. The musician has since expressed that he owes his success to public music education. At 53, being wildly successful in the musical industry with hits across multiple genres, Martin certainly has a lot to be grateful for — but luck is merely one facet of his success. 

Martin’s talent for the musical arts saw him through his teenage years. As a teenager, he sang in several bands before signing up to front glam-style metal band It’s Alive in 1985. His bandmates in It’s Alive included founding member Peter Kahm, ex-Lazy members Per Aldeheim and Kim Björkgren, and ex-Lineout member John Rosth. By the time 1988 had rolled around, Martin had dropped out of high school and had begun to pursue a musical career under the stage name Martin White. 

Martin’s musical career kicked off to great success with It’s Alive. While he went on to achieve several great career milestones with the band — from performing at Rock-SM (Swedish Rock Championships) and recording two albums to touring with German band Kingdom Come — it was his fated first collaboration with producer Denniz PoP that cemented his place in musical history. The founder of Cheiron Records, for which It’s Alive’s second album Earthquake Visions was recorded, Denniz PoP took Martin under his wing as his protégé, assuming the role of a mentor. In 1993, Martin formally joined Cheiron Records; two years later in 1995, he officially left It’s Alive. 

Martin’s global breakthrough in music arrived that same year, when Cheiron Records was approached by Zomba to work on the debut album of the Backstreet Boys. The album was wildly successful, catapulting the singers into global superstardom that persists even today. For the album, Martin lent his golden touch to “Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)”, which peaked at No.2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Reprising his role as writer and producer for the Backstreet Boys’ second album, Martin wrote “As Long As You Love Me” and co-wrote “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” with his mentor, Denniz PoP. 

While Martin may have had his early taste of success with the Backstreet Boys, his musical sphere has since grown to include other big names in the musical industry. To date, his extensive accolades include five Grammy award wins including one for Producer of the Year, 11 ASCAP award wins for Songwriter of the Year, one Academy award nomination, and two Golden Globe award nominations. He also boasts writing credits on 27 Billboard Hot 100 No.1 singles, of which he produced or co-produced 25.

Impressively, Martin currently holds bragging rights as the songwriter with the second-most No.1 singles on the chart, coming in after Sir Paul McCartney, who has written 32, and surpassing John Lennon, who has written 26. 

Most recently, Martin made waves in the Korean music industry when he worked on “New Woman”, performed by BLACKPINK’s Lisa and Rosalía Vila Tobella. Martin co-wrote the track with Lisa, Rosalía, and Tove Lo, and co-produced it with Swedish-Iranian songwriter, producer, and singer ILYA. Beyond his celebrated collaborations, Martin’s work of several decades has helped to launch the careers of numerous singers and performers. Here are some of the best songs that Max Martin has worked on, which have no doubt added to his net worth.

Songs you did not know were from Max Martin, that have padded his burgeoning net worth

Shake It Off (2014) — Taylor Swift 

The product of a fruitful collaboration with pop queen Taylor Swift, “Shake It Off” is among Max Martin’s best and most popular songs. While performing a sold out show of her Eras tour in Stockholm on May 19, Taylor Swift fondly shouted out her old collaborator, who was in the crowd. During the acoustic set, Swift took a moment to celebrate Martin’s impact on her work, saying, “Max is actually here tonight, but he’s a shy genius so I’m not going to bring him out onstage but I am going to what I am calling the ‘Max Martin Medley,'” Swift then performed a medley composed of “Message In A Bottle,” “How You Get The Girl”, and “New Romantics.”

Upon its release, “Shake It Off” climbed to No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it stayed for four weeks. At the 2015 Grammy Awards, the song was nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance. “Shake It Off” remains Swift’s only diamond certified single to date.

Send My Love (To Your New Lover) (2015) — Adele 

Along with Adele and fellow Swede songwriter Shellback, Martin worked on “Send My Love (To Your New Lover)”. The song quickly become one of Adele’s best-known tracks, peaking at No.8 in U.S. charts. 

Cool For The Summer (2015) — Demi Lovato 

Martin received co-writing and co-producing for Demi Lovato’s “Cool for the Summer”, which was the lead single of the artist’s fifth studio album Confident (2015). The song reached No.11 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Love Me Like You Do (2015) — Ellie Goulding 

The second single from the Fifty Shades of Grey (2015) soundtrack, Ellie Goulding’s “Love Me Like You Do” was co-written by Savan Kotecha, Ilya Salmanzadeh, Tove Lo, Max Martin and Ali Payami, with Martin and Payami both serving as producers. The song also featured in Goulding’s third album, Delirium (2015). The song peaked at No.3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the UK Singles Chart, where it remained for four weeks, holding the record for the most-streamed track in a single week in the United Kingdom at the time. It received two nominations at the 2016 Grammy Awards for Best Pop Solo Performance and Best Song Written for Visual Media. 

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (2012) — Taylor Swift 

The first of Martin’s collaborations with Taylor Swift, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” was written and produced by Swift and Martin in collaboration with Shellback. The certified bop debuted at No.72 and rose to No.1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 the following week. It holds a Guinness World Record for Fastest Selling Single in Digital History, and was nominated for Record of the Year at the 2013 Grammy Awards. 

…Baby One More Time (1998) — Britney Spears 

Martin worked with 2000s pop princess Britney Spears on her debut single “…Baby One More Time”, a song which propelled her to near-instant celebrity. The song debuted at No.17 on the Billboard Hot 100, rising to No.1 two and a half months later where it stayed for two consecutive weeks. It was also nominated for a Grammy award in 2000 for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. 

Oops!… I Did It Again” (2000) — Britney Spears 

For Spears’ second studio album Oops!… I Did It Again, Martin ‘did it again’, returning in the role of a writer and composer. Alongside Rami Yacoub, Martin is credited as a composer and producer for the eponymous lead single of the album; he also served as the sole lyricist of the track. It received a nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 2001 Grammy Awards and peaked at No.9 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The song remains one of Max Martin’s best productions, and its popularity has contributed significantly to his net worth.

Delicate (2017) — Taylor Swift 

Martin’s range was put on full display as he continued his collaboration with Taylor Swift for “Delicate”, the fourth single for Reputation (2017). Martin shared songwriting credits with Swift and Shellback and is credited as a co-producer with the latter. The certified double platinum song went on to peak at No.12 on the Billboard Hot 100, topping Billboard’s airplay charts, the Mainstream Top 40, Adult Contemporary, and Adult Pop Songs. “Delicate” was not the only song that Martin worked on for Reputation; his other credits on the album include, “…Ready For It”, “End Game”, “Don’t Blame Me”, and “King of My Heart” among others. 

Roar (2013) — Katy Perry 

In 2013, Martin co-wrote “Roar” with Katy Perry, Lukasz Gottwald, Bonnie McKee, and Henry Walter. Martin also co-produced the track with Dr. Luke and Canadian producer and songwriter Cirkut. “Roar” was a critical success, topping the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also earned two Grammy Award nominations in 2014, becoming 15x certified platinum and no doubt contributing to Max Martin’s net worth. It was later certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), after which “Firework” and “Dark Horse” were also certified diamond, making Perry the first artist to have three diamond-certified singles in the country at the time. The current record-holder for the most diamond certified tracks is Post Malone, who has a grand total of nine diamond certified singles. Today, Perry has six diamond certified singles. 

E.T. (2011) — Katy Perry ft. Kanye West 

Yet another song among Katy Perry’s nine chart toppers, “E.T.” was co-written Martin alongside Lukasz Gottwald, Joshua Coleman, and Perry herself. The track counts itself among Perry’s six diamond certified singles. 

It’s My Life (2000) — Bon Jovi 

Co-written with Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, “It’s My Life” remains one of Max Martin’s best and most memorable songs, contributing significantly to his incredible net worth. The lead single from Bon Jovi’s seventh album Crush (2000), “It’s My Life” quickly became the anthem of the early 2000s, peaking at No.33 in the Billboard Hot 100. It received a Grammy award nomination in 2001 for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and won Video of the Year at the VH1 My Music Awards. 

Higher Power (2021) — Coldplay 

Yet another incredibly successful band that Martin has collaborated with is Coldplay, who are currently on their sold-out Music of the Spheres World Tour. In 2021, Martin co-wrote “Higher Power” along with Federico Vindver and Denise Carite, along with Coldplay’s Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion, and Chris Martin. He is also credited as producer along with Olscar Holter and Bill Rahko. The song went on to peak at No.53 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and at No.4 on Billboard’s U.S. Rock Airplay. It also reached No.7 on Billboard’s U.S. Hot Rock & Alternative Songs charts. 

My Universe (2021) — Coldplay x BTS 

Martin also collaborated on “My Universe”, a track that found critical success owing to the involvement of highly popular Korean band BTS. The track was co-written by a stellar lineup of performers and musicians: Coldplay’s Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion, and Chris Martin, BTS’ RM, Suga, and J-Hope, Oscar Holter, Bill Rahko, and Martin himself. Martin also served as the producer along with Holter and Rahko. The song charted at No.1 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and the U.S. Rolling Stone Top 100 and peaked at No.2 on South Korea’s GAON chart. At the 2023 Grammy Awards, the song was nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

Blinding Lights (2020) — The Weeknd 

The second single from the The Weeknd’s fourth studio album After Hours (2020), “Blinding Lights” was co-written by The Weeknd, Oscar Holter, Belly, and DaHeala with Martin; it was also produced by Martin, Holter, and The Weeknd. Topping the charts in 40 countries, the electropop synthwave track proved wildly successful. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 for four non-consecutive weeks, becoming the song with the most weeks spent in the top five and top ten; it later became the first song to hold a top ten spot for a whole year. The song was certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), making it The Weeknd’s most successful song to date. At the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards, “Blinding Lights” won the awards for Video of the Year and Best R&B. It also won Top Hot 100 Song, Top Radio Song, and Top R&B Song at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards. 

Bad Blood (2014) — Taylor Swift 

Co-written by Max Martin with Taylor Swift, Shellback, and Kendrick Lamar, “Bad Blood” is a popular pop anthem that has no doubt contributed greatly to his net worth in royalties. Martin also co-produced the track with Shellback and Swedish Iranian songwriter, producer, and singer ILYA. “Bad Blood” won eight nominations at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards, and won two: Video of the Year and Best Collaboration. At the 2016 Grammy awards, the song received a nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, and won Best Music Video. The song peaked at No.1 at the Billboard Hot 100, the third single from 1989 (2014) to do so after “Shake It Off” and “Blank Space”. It was also Swift’s fourth No.1, and Lamar’s first. 

We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love) (2024) — Ariana Grande 

While Martin also claims co-writing credits for “Yes, And?”, the lead single of Ariana Grande’s seventh album Eternal Sunshine (2024), it was “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” that gained popularity after going viral on TikTok. Martin co-wrote and co-produced the track with Grande and Ilya Salmanzadeh to great effect. The song became Grande’s ninth No.1 single to top the Billboard Hot 100 and is certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). 

I Kissed A Girl (2008) – Katy Perry 

Maintaining his streak of co-writing debut singles, Martin left his indelible mark on “I Kissed A Girl”, Katy Perry’s debut single and the lead single of her second studio album One of the Boys (2008). The first of Perry’s nine No.1 hits, the track featured Lukasz Gottwald, Cathy Dennis, Max Martin, and Perry herself as co-writers, with Martin also serving as producer alongside Dr. Luke and Selena Gomez’s current beau, Benny Blanco. The single is one in eight of Perry’s songs to sell over 4 million digital copies in the United States, with the others being “Hot n Cold”, “California Gurls”, “Teenage Dream”, “Firework”, “E.T.”, “Dark Horse”, and “Roar”. Of the eight, only “Firework” did not benefit from Martin’s golden touch. 

Wide Awake (2012) — Katy Perry 

Specifically created for Katy Perry’s autobiographical film Katy Perry: Part of Me, “Wide Awake” was co-written by Katy Perry, Lukasz Gottwald, Henry Walter, Bonnie McKee, and Max Martin. It was also featured in Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection (2012), peaking at No.2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It was also certified 5x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), marking its popularity among Perry’s listeners and fans. 

So What (2008) — Pink 

The lead single from Pink’s fifth studio album Funhouse (2008), “So What” was co-written by Pink, Martin, and Shellback; Martin also produced the track. The song was Pink’s second single to top the Billboard Hot 100. Having sold over four million downloads, it is also Pink’s highest-selling single in the United States. At the 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards, “So What” won the award for Most Addictive Track. 

Lucky (2000) — Britney Spears 

The second single to be released from Britney Spears’ second album Oops!… I Did It Again (2000), “Lucky” is one of the best songs by Max Martin, who co-wrote it with Rami Yacoub and Alexander Kronlund. Martin also produced the track with Yacoub to great success. “Lucky” went on to become one of the most popular song of the 2000s, and topped the charts in Austria, Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland, peaking at No.5 in the United Kingdom and at No.23 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It is certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). 

It’s Gonna Be Me (2000) — NSYNC

Long before Justin Timberlake was causing wardrobe malfunctions at the Super Bowl, he was lending his vocal talents to “It’s Gonna Be Me” as the leader of ’90s boyband NSYNC. The song has since gone on to become a viral internet meme, brought back to life every year to herald the arrival of every May with, “It’s gonna be May!”. It also peaked at No.1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Can’t Stop The Feeling! (2016) — Justin Timberlake 

Written for the Trolls (2016) movie, “Can’t Stop The Feeling!” featured the work of Justin Timberlake, Max Martin, and Shellback, with all three receiving co-writing and co-producing credits for the track. The song was a smash hit, debuting at the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 with 379,000 downloads in its first week. It was Timberlake’s fifth No.1 single in the country and was the 26th song in the charts’ history to debut at the top. The track also topped the charts in several other countries, including Canada, France, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, and Switzerland among others. It is also certified 4x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). 

I Don’t Care (2019) — Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber 

The lead single from Ed Sheeran’s compilation album No.6 Collaborations Project (2019), “I Don’t Care” features vocals from Sheeran himself, and pop prince Justin Bieber. Collaboratively written by Sheeran, Bieber, Shellback, Fred Gibson, and Jason Boyd along with Martin, the song was also produced by Martin along with Shellback and Gibson. It peaked at No.1 in 26 countries, and at No.2 in seven others, including the United States. 

Stupid Love (2020) — Lady Gaga 

Martin received co-writing credits with Lady Gaga, Ely Rise, BloodPop, and Martin Bresso for “Stupid Love”, the lead single from Gaga’s sixth studio album Chromatica (2020). The track was well received, topped the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart and debuting at No.5 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Gaga’s twelfth top five song. It also became her first top 10 hit since “Shallow” and was her first top 10 debut since “Dope”. With “Stupid Love” charting successfully, Lady Gaga became the fifth artist to rank in the Hot 100’s top ten in the 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s. 

Supermodel (2022) — Måneskin 

The second single of Italian rock band Måneskin’s third album Rush! (2023), “Supermodel” features an incredible collective of co-writers: the band’s members Damiano David, Victoria De Angelis, Thomas Raggi and Ethan Torchio, and Justin Tranter, Rami Yacoub, Sylvester Sivertsen, and Martin himself. Along with Yacoub and Sivertsen, Martin served as a producer of the song, which peaked in the top ten of five countries and at No.5 in the U.S. Billboard Rock Airplay chart. 

While these songs are among some of Max Martin’s best works, his extensive list of celebrity collaborators extends far beyond the list. He has also worked with the likes of Avril Lavigne, Jessie J, Usher, Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Selena Gomez, Adam Lambert, and Conan Gray among others. 

What is the net worth of Max Martin? 

Owing to his extensive and lucrative career writing and producing some of the best songs in musical history, Max Martin has earned a net worth of USD 400 million. Martin is the co-founder and co-owner of music production house Maratone Studios, which earns approximately USD 40 to USD 60 million in income yearly. Of that figure, Martin is said to take home USD 20 to USD 30 million. This figure makes sense when one considers the voracity with which Martin’s greatest hits are consumed. 

With stars like Taylor Swift and Coldplay performing his music at their career-defining tours, Max Martin stands to add significantly to his earnings and net worth through performance royalties. While royalties gained from a single song may appear trifling, these royalties do not just apply to music that is being performed live. A songwriter is entitled to performance royalties when their song is performed on terrestrial broadcast radio, at a live venue, or via online streaming services. Consider the number of times you’ve listened to some of Martin’s tracks listed above. Then multiple that by a factor of a billion or more to account for the other audiophiles of the world, and you’ll arrive at a better understanding of how royalties contribute to Max Martin’s net worth. 

Given his numerous accolades and work on some of the greatest songs and chart toppers of our age, Max Martin’s staggering net worth reflects a life of strategic choices and talent. His career highlights include over 50 top ten hits and 27 No.1 Billboard Hot 100 songs. Collectively, his work has sold over 135 million singles worldwide, and he has received numerous awards from Grammys to ASCAP awards alike. Having added to his streak of hits across his active years in music, it is likely that Max Martin will continue to grow his net worth in coming years. 

(Main images: Spotify, Taylor Swift/YouTube, LLOUD Official/YouTube; Featured image: Spotify)

This story first appeared here.