9 of the best-selling albums of all time

The music industry boasts an array of musical icons whose timeless music has transcended various decades and generations.

Their enduring appeal underscores the universal language of music, uniting people across diverse cultures and tastes. Whether you’re drawn to The Beatles’ melodious tunes, Michael Jackson’s infectious dance beats, or Bob Marley’s soulful reggae rhythms, each album in this list offers something unique and impactful.

Here, we bring you a well-detailed overview of nine of the best-selling albums of all time:

1: Michael Jackson – Thriller

‘Thriller’ is Michael Jackson’s sixth studio album, released on November 29, 1982, by Epic Records. By the end of 1983, the album had sold 32 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling album of all time. It was the top-selling album globally in 1983 and the first to achieve the status of the best-selling album in the United States for two consecutive years, 1983 and 1984.

‘Thriller’ remains the best-selling album of all time, with an estimated 70 million copies sold globally. It is the top-selling non-compilation album and the second-best-selling album overall in the United States, achieving a 34× platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2021.

In 2008, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and the Library of Congress added it to the National Recording Registry for being ‘culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.’

2: Adele – 21

‘21’ was released in January 2011. It is the second studio album by multi award-winning English singer and songwriter, Adele.

‘21’ topped record charts in more than 30 countries, becoming the world’s best-selling album of the year for both 2011 and 2012, and significantly boosting the global music industry’s lagging sales. In the United Kingdom, it is the best-selling album of the 21st century and the fourth best-selling album of all time, with a record 23-week run atop the UK Albums Chart—the longest for a female solo artist. In the United States, it is the highest-performing album on the Billboard 200 of all time, holding the top position for 24 weeks, longer than any album since 1985, and the longest by a female solo artist in Billboard 200 history.

It was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), signifying sales of over 10 million copies in the United States.

3: Celine Dion – Let’s talk about love

‘Let’s Talk About Love’ is the fifteenth studio album and fifth English-language album by Canadian singer Celine Dion, released on 14 November 1997 by Sony Music.

It was one of the best-selling albums of both 1997 and 1998 in various countries and one of the top-selling albums of the decade. It received certifications such as Diamond, Multi-Platinum, Platinum, and Gold worldwide.

Before its release, Sony announced pre-orders of 10 million copies globally. By the end of 1998, ‘Let’s Talk About Love’ had sold 27 million copies worldwide, including 8.1 million in the US and 1.7 million in Canada, making it the best-selling album of 1998 both domestically and internationally. To date, the album has sold over 31 million copies, making it the fifth best-selling album by a woman and one of the best-selling albums in history.

4: Beatles – 1

Legendary British rock band, The Beatles released their record-shattering ‘1’ album in 2000. The album includes nearly every number-one single the band achieved in the United Kingdom or United States from 1962 to 1970.  ‘1’ was a commercial success, topping charts worldwide and selling over 31 million copies.

It became the highest-selling CD of 2000 and subsequently of the entire decade. This milestone made the Beatles the first and only artists to have the best-selling albums in two different decades.

It claimed the title of best-selling album of 2000 and ranked fourth overall for the decade in the UK. By its eleventh week, ‘1’ had exceeded two million copies sold and remained in the Top 75 for a total of 46 weeks.

In July 2013, the BPI certified ‘1’ as 10× Platinum for surpassing 3 million copies sold in the UK. It currently stands as the 21st highest-selling album in UK history, according to assessments by the Official Charts Company and the British Phonographic Industry, covering sales from July 28, 1956, to the present day.

5: Eminem- The Eminem Show

‘The Eminem Show’ Is Eminem’s fourth studio album, initially slated for release on June 4, 2002, but pushed forward to May 26, 2002, due to rampant piracy and bootlegging.

Debuting at number one on the Billboard 200, ‘The Eminem Show’ maintained this position for six non-consecutive weeks. Its second-week sales in the US exceeded 1.3 million copies, showcasing its immediate commercial success. Similarly, it dominated the UK Albums Chart for five consecutive weeks.

‘The Eminem Show’ released achieved unparalleled success by becoming the top-selling album in the United States and globally for that year. It also holds the distinction of being the highest-selling hip-hop album in music history and remains Eminem’s most commercially successful work. Certified 12× Platinum by the RIAA, its global sales of 27 million copies solidify its place among the best-selling albums of all time and as the second best-selling album of the 21st century.

6: Legend- Bob Marley and the Wailers

‘ Legend ‘Was Released on May 7, 1984, as a compilation album by reggae artist Bob Marley and popular reggae band the Wailers.

Originally released on vinyl, it quickly became the quintessential collection of their greatest hits and holds the title of the best-selling reggae album of all time. It has sold over 12 million copies in the US, 3.3 million in the UK (where it ranks as the 17th best-selling album), and an estimated 25 million copies worldwide.

As of July 2024, ‘Legend’ has made an impressive mark on the charts, spending a total of 842 nonconsecutive weeks on the US Billboard 200 albums chart, which is the second-longest run in the chart’s history. Similarly, it has spent 1,141 weeks in the top 100 of the UK Albums Chart, marking the third longest run in that chart’s history.

In the United Kingdom, the album has achieved a remarkable certification of 13× Platinum, highlighting its enduring popularity. It ranks as the 16th best-selling album of all time in the UK, with sales exceeding 3,380,000 units as of July 2016.

7: Taylor Swift – The Tortured Poets Department

Taylor Swift’s latest album, ‘The Tortured Poets Department,’ set a new record as her seventh studio album to achieve sales exceeding one million copies within its first week of release, selling 1.913 million copies in the US alone.

‘The Tortured Poet Department,’ has broken numerous records since its launch on April 19. The album dominated global streaming platforms, establishing her as the preeminent pop artist of the century and Taylor Swift tickets have sold out throughout the world off the back of the album.

Following the release of ‘The Tortured Poets Department’, Swift also claimed the title of the most-streamed artist a day after her album became Spotify’s most-streamed album, amassing over 300 million daily streams.

According to data from Luminate, the album achieved an unprecedented debut, amassing a groundbreaking 2.6 million equivalent album units in its inaugural week of release in the US. These units encompass various digital metrics such as downloads and streams, not limited to CDs, vinyl, and cassettes.

‘The Tortured Poets Department’ marked Swift’s 14th album to reach the summit of the Billboard 200 chart, matching Jay-Z’s record for the most number-one albums among solo artists.

8: Life After Death – The Notorious B.I.G

The Notorious B.I.G. achieved a historic milestone with his album ‘Life After Death,’ becoming the best-selling hip-hop album of all time with over 10 million copies sold in the U.S. alone.

Both ‘Hypnotize’ and ‘Mo Money Mo Problems’ received Grammy nominations for Best Rap Performance, with the double-disc album also nominated for Best Rap Album. The album’s commercial success was exceptional, selling nearly 700,000 copies in its debut week and achieving Diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America in 2000.

Released in March 1997, just months after Tupac died in 1996, the album also sparked controversy due to cryptic insults directed at the slain rapper in ‘Long Kiss Goodnight,’ referencing Tupac who had mentioned Biggie by name in his music.

The feud between Biggie and Tupac came to symbolize the East Coast-West Coast rivalry of the 1990s, arguably the most extensively documented feud in hip-hop history.

9: The Bodyguard – Whitney Houston

Released in 1992, ‘The Bodyguard’ soundtrack album featured six notable pop songs by Whitney Houston, including her iconic cover of Dolly Parton’s ‘I Will Always Love You’, Chaka Khan’s ‘I’m Every Woman’, and ‘Run to You’.

The album’s immense popularity kept it at the number 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for an impressive 14 weeks. Other beloved tracks from this best-selling album include the upbeat pop/dance track ‘Queen of the Night’ and the soulful gospel tune ‘Jesus Loves Me’.

‘The Bodyguard’ quickly became one of the best-selling pop albums of all time, accumulating a staggering 45 million unit sales before eventually relinquishing its top spot on the charts.