According to figures from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), bands like The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Eagles, as well as artists like Michael Jackson, Celine Dion and Bruce Springsteen, have created the best-selling records of all time. According to their record labels, album sales would be even higher – the respective estimates can be found in our list in brackets – behind official worldwide sales.
25. Pink Floyd: The Wall (1979)
18.7 million copies sold (30 million according to the label)
24. Celine Dion: Let’s Talk About Love (1997)
19.3 million copies sold (31 million according to the label)
23. Michael Jackson: Bath (1987)
19.3 million copies sold (35 million according to the label)
22. Madonna: The Immaculate Collection (1990)
19.4 million copies sold (30 million according to the label)
21. Bruce Springsteen: Born in the USA (1984)
19.6 million copies sold (30 million according to the label)
20. Celine Dion: Falling into You (1996)
20.2 million copies sold (32 million according to the label)
19. Santana: Supernatural (1999)
20.5 million copies sold (30 million according to the label)
18. Meat Loaf: Bat Out of Hell (1977)
21.5 million copies sold (43 million according to the label)
17. Guns N’ Roses: Appetite for Destruction (1987)
21.6 million copies sold (30 million according to the label)
16. Bee Gees/Various artists: Saturday Night Fever (1977)
21.6 million copies sold (40 million according to the label)
15. Bob Marley & The Wailers: Legend (1984)
22 million copies sold (25 million according to the label)
14. ABBA: Gold: Greatest Hits (1992)
23 million copies sold (30 million according to the label)
13. The Beatles: 1 (2000)
23.4 million copies sold (31 million according to the label)
12. Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
24.2 million copies sold (45 million according to the label)
11. Alanis Morissette: Jagged Little Pill (1995)
24.4 million copies sold (33 million according to the label)
10. Metallica: Metallica (1991)
25.2 million copies sold (31 million according to the label)
9. Adele: 21 (2011)
25.3 million copies sold (31 million according to the label)
8. AC/DC: Back in Black (1980)
26.1 million copies sold (50 million according to the label)
7. Fleetwood Mac: Rumors (1977)
27.9 million copies sold (40 million according to the label)
6. Whitney Houston/Various artists: The Bodyguard (1992)
28.4 million copies sold (45 million according to the label)
5. Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin IV (1971)
29 million copies sold (37 million according to the label)
4. Shania Twain: Come On Over (1997)
29.6 million copies sold (40 million according to the label)
3. Eagles: Hotel California (1976)
31.5 million copies sold (42 million according to the label)
2. Eagles: Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) (1976)
41.2 million copies sold (51 million according to the label)
1. Michael Jackson: Thriller (1982)
47.3 million copies sold (66 million according to the label)