Artists With the Most No. 1 Albums

Some artists may never release a No. 1 hit song, much less a No. 1 hit album. Other artists, however, hit No. 1 with their albums not just once but several times over their career.

For example, Billboard 200 released an article earlier this week noting that Taylor Swift’s album “The Tortured Poets Department” has reached its seventh straight week at No. 1. This is not surprising considering Swift has hit the No. 1 album spot an astonishing 14 times, but it does bring up one question. Which artists have had the most No. 1 albums?

When it comes to determining top albums, most rely on Billboard charts. This chart uses information from from Luminate, an independent data provider. Luminate reviews the most streamed songs from albums as well as digital individual song sales and album sales. This information is then compiled weekly to create the Billboard Top 200 chart.

From rapper Rick Ross to none other than the Beatles, this list below covers 44 artists who have had at least 5 albums reach the No. 1 position on music charts. Additionally, this list covers artists from various genres. For example, pop singer Celine Dion had five No. 1 hit albums while heavy metal band Metallica had six. Other artists you’ll find on this list include Britany Spears, Pink Floyd, and the Eagles to name a few. (For more reading, check out these 10 one-hit rock n’ roll albums.)

To determine the artists with the most No. 1 albums, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on historical chart performance from the Billboard 200. Artists were ranked based on the total number of albums that reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Chart data is current through June 1, 2024.

Here is the list of the artists with the most No. 1 albums: 

44. Rick Ross

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 5 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 5 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 221 weeks
• Biggest album: “Trilla” (No. 1 for 1 week)

43. Disturbed

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 5 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 5 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 453 weeks
• Biggest album: “Immortalized” (No. 1 for 1 week)

42. Toby Keith

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 5 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 5 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 1,014 weeks
• Biggest album: “Unleashed” (No. 1 for 1 week)

41. R. Kelly

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 5 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 6 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 500 weeks
• Biggest album: “R. Kelly” (No. 1 for 1 week)

40. George Strait

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 5 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 6 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 1,657 weeks
• Biggest album: “50 Number Ones” (No. 1 for 2 weeks)

39. DMX

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 5 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 7 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 321 weeks
• Biggest album: “It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot” (No. 1 for 1 week)

38. Lil Wayne

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 5 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 8 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 723 weeks
• Biggest album: “Tha Carter III” (No. 1 for 3 weeks)

37. Celine Dion

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 5 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 9 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 835 weeks
• Biggest album: “Falling Into You” (No. 1 for 3 weeks)

36. Pearl Jam

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 5 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 10 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 639 weeks
• Biggest album: “Vs.” (No. 1 for 5 weeks)

35. Alicia Keys

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 5 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 11 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 333 weeks
• Biggest album: “The Diary Of Alicia Keys” (No. 1 for 2 weeks)

34. Van Halen

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 5 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 12 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 778 weeks
• Biggest album: “For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge” (No. 1 for 3 weeks)

33. Bob Dylan

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 5 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 13 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 1,140 weeks
• Biggest album: “Desire” (No. 1 for 5 weeks)

32. Chicago

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 5 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 22 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 1,153 weeks
• Biggest album: “Chicago VII” (No. 1 for 1 week)

31. Pink Floyd

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 5 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 23 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 1,677 weeks
• Biggest album: “The Dark Side Of The Moon” (No. 1 for 1 week)

30. BTS

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 6 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 6 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 383 weeks
• Biggest album: “MAP OF THE SOUL : 7” (No. 1 for 1 week)

29. Linkin Park

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 6 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 6 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 814 weeks
• Biggest album: “Meteora” (No. 1 for 2 weeks)

28. J. Cole

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 6 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 6 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 920 weeks
• Biggest album: “2014 Forest Hills Drive” (No. 1 for 1 week)

27. Nas

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 6 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 9 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 269 weeks
• Biggest album: “It Was Written” (No. 1 for 4 weeks)

26. Ariana Grande

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 6 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 9 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 677 weeks
• Biggest album: “Thank U, Next” (No. 1 for 2 weeks)

25. Britney Spears

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 6 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 11 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 473 weeks
• Biggest album: “…Baby One More Time” (No. 1 for 6 weeks)

24. Metallica

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 6 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 14 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 1,510 weeks
• Biggest album: “Metallica” (No. 1 for 4 weeks)

23. Bon Jovi

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 6 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 17 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 1,119 weeks
• Biggest album: “Slippery When Wet” (No. 1 for 8 weeks)

22. Mariah Carey

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 6 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 30 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 931 weeks
• Biggest album: “Mariah Carey” (No. 1 for 11 weeks)

21. Eagles

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 6 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 30 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 1,416 weeks
• Biggest album: “Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975” (No. 1 for 5 weeks)

20. Michael Jackson

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 6 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 51 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 2,127 weeks
• Biggest album: “Thriller” (No. 1 for 37 weeks)

19. Dave Matthews Band

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 7 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 8 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 669 weeks
• Biggest album: “Before These Crowded Streets” (No. 1 for 1 week)

18. Led Zeppelin

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 7 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 29 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 1,358 weeks
• Biggest album: “Houses Of The Holy” (No. 1 for 2 weeks)

17. Elton John

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 7 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 39 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 2,058 weeks
• Biggest album: “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” (No. 1 for 8 weeks)

16. Justin Bieber

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 8 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 12 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 761 weeks
• Biggest album: “My World 2.0” (No. 1 for 4 weeks)

15. Beyonce

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 8 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 12 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 871 weeks
• Biggest album: “Beyonce” (No. 1 for 3 weeks)

14. U2

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 8 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 22 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 1,271 weeks
• Biggest album: “The Joshua Tree” (No. 1 for 9 weeks)

13. Kenny Chesney

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 9 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 9 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 1,067 weeks
• Biggest album: “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems” (No. 1 for 1 week)

12. Madonna

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 9 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 20 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 1,058 weeks
• Biggest album: “Like A Virgin” (No. 1 for 3 weeks)

11. Eminem

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 9 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 33 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 2,337 weeks
• Biggest album: “Curtain Call: The Hits” (No. 1 for 2 weeks)

10. The Rolling Stones

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 9 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 38 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 2,050 weeks
• Biggest album: “Some Girls” (No. 1 for 2 weeks)

9. Garth Brooks

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 9 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 52 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 1,334 weeks
• Biggest album: “Ropin’ The Wind” (No. 1 for 18 weeks)

8. Future

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 10 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 7 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 761 weeks
• Biggest album: “DS2” (No. 1 for 1 week)

7. Kanye West

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 11 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 10 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 1,179 weeks
• Biggest album: “Graduation” (No. 1 for 1 week)

6. Barbra Streisand

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 11 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 21 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 1,834 weeks
• Biggest album: “People” (No. 1 for 5 weeks)

5. Bruce Springsteen

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 11 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 29 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 974 weeks
• Biggest album: “Born In The U.S.A.” (No. 1 for 7 weeks)

4. Drake

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 13 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 34 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 2,871 weeks
• Biggest album: “Take Care” (No. 1 for 1 week)

3. JAY-Z

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 14 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 21 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 530 weeks
• Biggest album: “Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life” (No. 1 for 5 weeks)

2. Taylor Swift

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 14 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 74 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 2,861 weeks
• Biggest album: “1989” (No. 1 for 11 weeks)

1. The Beatles

• Albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 19 entries
• Time at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: 132 weeks
• Total time on the Billboard 200: 3,280 weeks
• Biggest album: “1” (No. 1 for 8 weeks)