The following is a list of benefit concerts that have generated the most gross income. Figures provided are in USD, and are sorted based on inflation-adjusted gross earnings.
They do not reflect later adjustments made due to additional donations received, or production costs incurred. Organizers of The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, for instance, declared $35 million had been raised at the conclusion of that event. However, travel accommodation expenses for the event's performers decreased their net charitable contribution significantly.
Malfeasance is also disregarded, such as the charity Yéle Haiti embezzling money raised by Hope for Haiti Now. Funds raised by Live Aid to alleviate the famine in Ethiopia were allegedly distributed to dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam, who instead used them to purchase weaponry.
Live Aid has remained the highest-grossing benefit concert since 1985, when it overtook that title from The Concert for Bangladesh.
Highest-grossing benefit concerts
| Rank | Actual gross | Adjusted gross (in 2024 dollars) | Event | Beneficiaries | Year | Attendance | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $100,000,000 | $292,357,673 | Live Aid | Band Aid Trust | 1985 | 170,000 | |
| 2 | $150,000,000 | $266,369,104 | America: A Tribute to Heroes | September 11th Fund | 2001 | N/A | |
| 3 | $190,000,000 | $190,000,000 | Back to the Beginning | Acorns Children's Hospice Birmingham Children's Cure Parkinson's | 2025 | 45,000 | |
| 4 | $128,000,000 | $155,519,095 | Together at Home | COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund | 2020 | N/A | |
| 5 | $100,000,000 | $100,000,000 | FireAid | Annenberg Foundation | 2025 | ||
| 6 | $58,000,000 | $83,632,230 | Hope for Haiti Now | Clinton Bush Haiti Fund Oxfam America Partners In Health Red Cross UNICEF World Food Programme Yéle Haiti | 2010 | N/A | |
| 7 | $35,000,000 | $78,424,235 | The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert | Mercury Phoenix Trust | 1992 | 72,000 | |
| 8 | $50,000,000 | $68,480,939 | 12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief | Robin Hood Foundation | 2012 | ||
| 9 | $40,000,000 | $64,399,387 | A Concert for Hurricane Relief | American Red Cross | 2005 | N/A | |
| 10 | $45,000,000 | $61,632,845 | Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert | Oxford University | 2007 | 18,000 | |
| 11 | $30,000,000 | $53,273,821 | The Concert for New York City | Robin Hood Foundation | 2001 | 14,000 | |
| 12 | $30,000,000 | $48,299,540 | Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast | American Red Cross The Salvation Army | 2005 | N/A | |
| 13 | $12,000,000 | $35,082,921 | The Concert for Bangladesh | UNICEF | 1971 | 40,000 | |
| 14 | $18,300,000 | $29,462,719 | Tsunami Aid | American Red Cross | 2005 | N/A | |
| 15 | $29,000,000 | $29,000,000 | Stand Up for Heroes | Bob Woodruff Foundation | 2024 | 2,700 | |
| 16 | $7,000,000 | $26,312,191 | Farm Aid | National Council of Churches | 1985 | 80,000 | |
| 17 | $12,000,000 | $19,319,816 | Live 8 | Band Aid Trust | 2005 | 1,000,000 | |
| 18 | $13,000,000 | $16,676,215 | One Love Manchester | We Love Manchester Emergency Fund | 2017 | 50,000 | |
| 19 | $5,000,000 | $13,293,472 | Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute | Bishop Ambrose Reeves Trust CAFOD Christian Aid IDAF Oxfam Save the Children War on Want | 1988 | 75,000 | |
| 20 | $7,000,000 | $10,223,029 | Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday Tribute | Nelson Mandela Foundation | 2008 | 46,664 |
See also
wikipedia, wiki, encyclopedia, book, library, article, read, free download, Information about List of highest-grossing benefit concerts, What is List of highest-grossing benefit concerts? What does List of highest-grossing benefit concerts mean?