Is Tom Waits A-List?
NoB
No — Tom Waits is currently ranked B tier — a well-known figure with a strong career but not quite a household name.
Ranking Timeline
1973C$0.05M
Debut Album Release
Released his first album, "Closing Time", establishing a distinct sound.
1983B▲$0.5M+$0.45M
Swordfishtrombones Experimentation
Released "Swordfishtrombones", marked a shift to experimental sound.
1992B$2M+$1.5M
Bone Machine Grammy
Won a Grammy Award for "Bone Machine", critical acclaim.
2002B$5M+$3M
"Blood Money" Release
Released "Blood Money", continued experimenting with different sounds.
2011B$15M+$10M
"Bad as Me" Acclaim
Released "Bad as Me", received critical acclaim and renewed interest.
2026B$25M+$10M
Influential Artist
Continues to be a creative performer.
Last updated: February 23, 2026