How much money did Live Aid raise? See total amount from historic 1985 event
The benefit concert organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure was to help the 1983 to 1985 famine in Ethiopia.
An estimated audience of 1.9 billion people watched the live broadcast, with the two shows held simultaneously at Wembley Stadium and the John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia.
But just how much did the concert make in total for charity?
LIVE AID AT 40 🎸 "There were no phones, no social media. We just lived in the moment." We invited fans to recount their experiences of Live Aid. Watch the full video 👇https://t.co/lq4KY6OfUs pic.twitter.com/loHwZANY0G
— Wembley Stadium (@wembleystadium) July 9, 2025
The Live Aid show was broadcast at 12 noon in London and 7am in Philadelphia.
Coldstream Guards
Status Quo
The Style Council
The Boomtown Rats
Adam Ant
Ultravox
Spandau Ballet
Elvis Costello
Nik Kershaw
Sade
Sting, Phil Collins and Branford Marsalis
Howard Jones
Bryan Ferry
Paul Young
U2
Dire Straits
Queen
David Bowie
The Who
Elton John
Paul McCartney
Band Aid
Bernard Watson
Joan Baez
The Hooters
Four Tops
Billy Ocean
Black Sabbath
Run-D.M.C
Rick Springfield
REO Speedwagon
Crosby, Stills and Nash
Judas Priest
Bryan Adams
The Beach Boys
George Thorogood and the Destroyers
Simple Minds
Pretenders
Santana
Ashford & Simpson
Madonna
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Kenny Loggins
The Cars
Neil Young
The Power Station
Thompson Twins
Eric Clapton
Phil Collins
Led Zeppelin
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Duran Duran
Patti LaBelle
Hall & Oates
Mick Jagger
Bob Dylan, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood
USA for Africa
Other special guests and performers appeared at each show, too.
During each concert, viewers were consistently urged to donate money to the Live Aid cause.
The BBC operated 300 phone lines to help take in donations during the event.
The largest donation came from Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, then the son of the ruler of Dubai, who donated £1m in a phone conversation with organiser Bob Geldof.
News outlets reported the next day that between £40 and £50 million had been raised from Live Aid.
However, it is now estimated that about £150 million has been raised in total for famine relief as a direct result of the concerts.
Recommended reading:
Bob Geldof says another Live Aid event is 'unlikely' because of social media
BBC announces documentary and shows for Live Aid 40th anniversary
To mark the 40th anniversary of Live Aid this year, for the first time since the 1985 concert, the BBC will air extended highlights from the 16 hours of music.
There will also be backstage footage, including interviews with iconic names such as Bono, Brian May, David Bowie, Roger Daltrey, Spandau Ballet and Sting.
Live Aid: The Concert will be on BBC Two on Saturday, July 12, with part one from 6pm to 9.15pm and part two following from 9.25pm to 1.05am on Sunday.
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