Elton John, 70, is set to retire from touring, it’s been reported this morning. The star has been a staple household name since the 1970s when he burst onto the music scene.
But true fans will know Elton John isn’t the musician’s real name.
On 25 March 1947, Reginald Kenneth Dwight was born to parents Stanley and Sheila Dwight.
His parents didn’t marry until he was six years old but Elton – then Reginald – took his father’s last name.
When did he change his name?
It’s believed in 1967 then-Reginald was already going by the name Elton John.
The moniker is a clever combination of the names of saxophonist Elton Dean and Long John Baldry.
In 1972 Reginald Kenneth Dwight has his name legally changed to Elton Hercules John.
Now Elton is one of the most famous musicians in the world, with a career spanning over 50 years.
Famous for hits such as “Your Song”, “Candle in the Wind” and “Rocket Man”, Elton’s music has been the soundtrack to the lives of generations around the world.
With such a huge back catalogue and many tours under his belt, it is unsurprising the father-of-two enjoys a massive personal fortune.
Forbes puts Elton John’s net worth at a whopping $450million (£319.2million).
Currently playing 99 live shows in Las Vegas, Elton is next slated to compose the score for “The Devil Wears Prada” on Broadway.
He made 26 of the Forbes Celebrity 100 earners in 2017, raking in $60million (£42.5 million)last year alone.
Elton is nearly as famous for his charitable work as he is for his music, and is one of the most prolific fundraisers in the UK.
The Elton John AIDS Foundation has worked in the fight against HIV for 24 years.
As a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, Elton supports students there through the Elton John Scholarship Fund.
He also has a Sports Fund, designed to support Britain’s shining stars across over 50 sports.