Early Life: Dartford Boy to Blues Obsessed Teen
Born December 18, 1943, in war-torn Dartford, Kent, Keith was the only child of factory worker Bert and jazz-loving Doris. His grandfather Gus, a big-band sax player, put a guitar in his hands at age five. By 15 he was expelled from technical school for truancy (he was busy learning every Chuck Berry solo note-for-note). A chance meeting with Mick Jagger on a train platform in 1961, both clutching rare blues records, changed music history.
Career Highlights & Timeline That Shaped Rock
From forming the Rolling Stones in 1962 to the infamous 1967 Redlands drug bust, the tragic loss of son Tara in 1976, and the triumphant 2024 Hackney Diamonds world tour that grossed over $500 million, Keith’s life is rock’n’roll scripture. He invented the five-string open-G tuning that powered “Honky Tonk Women,” “Start Me Up,” and countless classics. Solo albums like Talk Is Cheap (1988) and Crosseyed Heart (2015) proved he never needed the Stones to shine.
In 2025 he’s working with producer Andrew Watt on fresh Stones material, and a remastered Black and Blue anniversary edition drops two previously unreleased tracks.
| Birth Date | December 18, 1943 (age 81 in 2025) |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| Weight | ≈150 lb (68 kg) |
| Net Worth 2025 | $600 million |
| Annual Earnings | $30–40 million (royalties + tours) |
| Married | Patti Hansen since December 18, 1983 |
| Children | 5 (Marlon, Angela, Theodora, Alexandra + late Tara) |
| Grandchildren | 7 |
| Rolling Stones Formed | 1962 |
| First #1 Single Co-Write | “The Last Time” (1965) |
| Solo Debut | Talk Is Cheap (1988) |
| Pirates of the Caribbean Role</ | Captain Teague (2007–2011) |
| Quit Heroin | 1978 |
| Quit Cocaine | 2006 |
| Quit Cigarettes | 2019 |
| Latest Award | 2025 Connecticut Governor’s Excellence Award |
Net Worth & Salary: How He Built a $600 Million Empire
Keith’s fortune comes from 200+ million albums sold, lifetime tour grosses topping $2 billion, publishing royalties (he co-owns the Glimmer Twins catalog), real estate, and smart investments. Even without new music, Spotify alone pays the Stones roughly $10–12 million a year. The 2024 tour added another $50 million to his bank account after splits.
Height, Weight & Health Secrets at 81
Always slim, Keith now maintains around 150 pounds on his 5-foot-9 frame. He credits daily walks with his dogs, yoga with Patti, and swapping shepherd’s pie for smoothies. After brain surgery in 2006 and decades of excess, he’s the living proof that purpose and creativity are the ultimate anti-aging drugs.
Married Life & Dating History: From Anita Pallenberg to Patti Hansen
From 1967–1979 he was with actress/model Anita Pallenberg – a glamorous, turbulent relationship that produced three children and endless headlines. After they split, he met Patti Hansen at Studio 54. They married on his 40th birthday in 1983 and have two daughters, Theodora and Alexandra. In 2025 they celebrated 42 years together and recently renewed vows at their Redlands estate.
| First Serious Girlfriend | Anita Pallenberg (1967–1979) |
| Children with Anita | Marlon, Angela, Tara (died 1976) |
| Met Patti Hansen | 1979 |
| Wedding Date | December 18, 1983 (his 40th birthday) |
| Children with Patti | Theodora (b. 1985), Alexandra (b. 1986) |
| Current Residence | Weston, Connecticut + homes in London & Parrot Cay |
Why Keith Richards Is the Ultimate Rock Survivor in 2025
Most men his age are retired. Keith is in Metropolis Studios laying down riffs that will outlive us all. His open-G tuning revolutionized rock guitar (Jack White, John Mayer, and half of Nashville still swear by it). He inspired Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow, wrote a million-copy memoir, and turned his life into the blueprint for authentic rock’n’roll living.
As he posted on the Stones’ official account this year: “You have the sun, the moon, the stars… and the Rolling Stones.” At 81, the Human Riff is still very much alive and kicking.
Sources & Further Reading:
Keith Richards – Wikipedia
Official Rolling Stones Website
Patti Hansen on Instagram
Keith Richards on X
