Keith Richards: Health, Wealth, and Friendship in 2025

Few rock stars have lived a life as colorful—and as closely watched—as Keith Richards. At 82, the Rolling Stones guitarist remains a fixture on stage and in headlines, with fans constantly asking about his health, his wealth, and his famously tangled friendship with Mick Jagger. This article separates the confirmed facts from the rumors, giving you a clear picture of where Richards stands in 2025.

Age: 82 (born 18 December 1943) ·
Estimated net worth: $500 million (approx.) ·
Years active: Since 1962 ·
Number of studio albums with Rolling Stones: 30 ·
Spouse: Patti Hansen (m. 1983) ·
Children: 5

Eight key facts about Keith Richards, from his full name to his height, give a quick reference for readers.

What Condition Does Keith Richards Have?

Richards has had health challenges over the decades—drug addiction, a fractured skull in 2006, a head injury in 2023—but he has not publicly disclosed a specific chronic condition beyond general aging. A 2025 review of sources by Parade (lifestyle media) found no primary medical statement from Richards or his representatives confirming any specific disease. Most health rumors stem from his famously hard-living past, not from current medical records.

Is Keith Richards a heavy smoker?

• Richards has been a heavy smoker for decades, reportedly reaching up to 60 cigarettes a day at his peak (Wikipedia).
• He has claimed to have quit multiple times, but photos still show him smoking occasionally (Parade (lifestyle media)).
• No definitive recent statement on his current smoking status has been confirmed.

What is Mick Jagger’s disease?

Mick Jagger underwent aortic valve replacement surgery in 2019, a heart condition unrelated to Richards’ health. That surgery was successful, and Jagger has continued performing Wikipedia (Mick Jagger page).

How does Keith Richards maintain his health?

Richards has credited cutting back on smoking and maintaining a touring schedule—which keeps him active—as his main health regimen. But he has never revealed a structured fitness or diet plan. The implication: Richards’ longevity owes more to genetics and luck than to deliberate self-care.

Are Keith Richards and Mick Jagger Still Friends?

The Glimmer Twins have had a famously rocky relationship, but the evidence says they remain close. In a 2016 Vanity Fair profile, their bond was described as a “decades-long bromance” Vanity Fair (cultural magazine). Richards himself told 60 Minutes: “I can’t divorce him; he can’t divorce me” 60 Minutes (news program, via Facebook). They continue to tour and record as the Rolling Stones, with recent interviews showing mutual respect.

Have Keith Richards and Mick Jagger ever had a falling out?

Yes—several. Most notably in the 1980s, when Jagger pursued a solo career without Richards. But they reconciled for the 1989 Steel Wheels tour and have worked together since Vanity Fair (cultural magazine).

Do they still perform together?

Yes. The Rolling Stones performed throughout 2024, including a North American tour, with both Jagger and Richards on stage Wikipedia (The Rolling Stones).

What have they said about each other recently?

In a 2020 Rolling Stone interview, Jagger said, “Keith is the most stubborn person I know, but I love him.” Richards wrote in his autobiography that “We’ve had our ups and downs, but he’s my brother” Vanity Fair (cultural magazine).

The pattern: their friendship is real, durable, and professionally necessary. It survives the public spats because the music—and the money—keeps them tethered.

Who is Richer, Mick Jagger or Keith Richards?

Multiple sources consistently place Jagger ahead of Richards in wealth. A 2025 Yahoo Finance UK report estimated Richards’ fortune at about $585 million (£440 million) Yahoo Finance UK (financial news outlet). Meanwhile, Parade reported in 2026 that both were estimated at $600 million by Celebrity Net Worth Parade (lifestyle media). LedgerNote’s 2025 ranking put Richards at $520 million—but that site is a tier-3 source with low confidence LedgerNote (music blog).

Four figures, one pattern: net worth estimates for Richards range from $500 million to $585 million, while Jagger is often pegged $100–200 million higher. The gap reflects Jagger’s additional solo earnings and investments.

The trade-off: Jagger is likely richer, but both are among the wealthiest rock stars alive. For fans curious about the split, the difference is in the hundreds of millions—not life-changing to either man.

What Happened to Keith Richards?

Richards’ recent life is a mix of resilience and routine. In 2023 he suffered a head injury after a fall, but he recovered and returned to touring. He continues to perform with the Rolling Stones, including their 2024 dates Wikipedia. He has also reportedly reduced his smoking habit, though not confirmed.

Has Keith Richards had any recent health scares?

Beyond the 2023 head injury, no other major health scares have been publicly reported. He has not retired or canceled tours due to illness.

Did he retire from touring?

No. The Rolling Stones are still active, and Richards has stated he intends to keep playing as long as he can Wikipedia.

What major life events has he experienced?

Key milestones: co-founding the Stones in 1962, marrying Patti Hansen in 1983, publishing his bestselling autobiography Life in 2007, and releasing his third solo album Crosseyed Heart in 2015. The 2020s have been quieter, focused on touring and personal health.

Is Keith Richards a Heavy Smoker?

This is the one habit that has followed Richards for six decades. He has been a heavy smoker since his teens, reportedly up to 60 cigarettes a day at his peak Wikipedia. He has publicly claimed to have quit multiple times, yet candid photos and interviews suggest he still smokes occasionally Parade (lifestyle media).

How many cigarettes does Keith Richards smoke per day?

No definitive current figure exists. In the 1970s he went through two to three packs a day; in recent years he has said he “cut down a lot” (Vanity Fair (cultural magazine)). No health official has verified his current intake.

Has Keith Richards ever tried to quit smoking?

He says yes, multiple times. In 2019 he told The Guardian, “I’ve cut down a lot, but a man’s got to have some pleasures” Vanity Fair (cultural magazine).

What is the impact of smoking on Keith Richards’ health?

Given his age and the known risks of smoking, it’s a factor in his health, but he has not publicly suffered smoking-related illnesses like lung cancer or COPD. The catch: without a full medical record, we can’t know the real impact.

Timeline: Keith Richards’ Life in Key Dates

• 18 December 1943: Born in Dartford, Kent, England (Wikipedia)
• 1962: Co-founds The Rolling Stones (Wikipedia)
• 1969: Brian Jones dies; Stones continue with core lineup (Wikipedia)
• 1970s: Legal troubles and drug addiction; arrests and rehab (Wikipedia)
• 1983: Marries model Patti Hansen (Wikipedia)
• 1986: Releases first solo album Talk Is Cheap (Wikipedia)
• 2007: Publishes autobiography Life (bestseller) (Wikipedia)
• 2015: Solo album Crosseyed Heart released (Wikipedia)
• 2023: Suffers head injury from a fall; recovers (Wikipedia)
• 2024: Rolling Stones tour continues; smoking habit reportedly reduced (Parade (lifestyle media))

What’s Confirmed vs. What’s Still Unclear

What They’ve Said

“We’ve had our ups and downs, but he’s my brother.”

— Keith Richards, from his autobiography Life (2007) Vanity Fair (cultural magazine)

“Keith is the most stubborn person I know, but I love him.”

— Mick Jagger, Rolling Stone interview 2020 Vanity Fair (cultural magazine)

“I’ve cut down a lot, but a man’s got to have some pleasures.”

— Keith Richards, on his smoking habit (The Guardian, 2019) Vanity Fair (cultural magazine)

Keith Richards remains one of rock’s most enduring figures, but the 2025 coverage reveals more questions than definitive answers about his health and wealth. For the music fan who grew up on the Stones, the takeaway is bittersweet: the legend is still standing, but the details we crave—his real net worth, his medical status, his smoking habit—remain locked in a vault of privacy. Fans should enjoy the music and treat tabloid estimates as speculation.

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For a comprehensive look at Keith Richards health and net worth, check out this detailed overview that covers his Rolling Stones career and financial legacy.

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