Chris Martin's life in Devon and net worth as Coldplay announce UK tour

Coldplay have announced a huge UK stadium tour for 2025

Making waves as the frontman of the iconic band Coldplay, Chris Martin, who was born and raised in Exeter, has captured the hearts of fans globally. The acclaimed rock/pop group burst into the limelight with their album 'Parachutes' released in July 2000, earning a Brit Award and Grammy in the process.

Born in Exeter, Martin attended at Hylton School, Exeter Cathedral School, and Sherborne School in Dorset, where he found his love for music and ran a Sting fan-club, a Telegraph article reveals. A teenage Martin started a blues band called The Rockin' Honkies - which the musician said did not go down well.

"I was 15," he said, "wearing a long black coat. My voice hadn't broken and my lyrics were appalling." From a long line of well-to-do Devonians, Martin's dad Anthony is a now retired chartered accountant and his mum Alison is a music teacher.

In 1929 the singer's granddad, John Besley Martin founded Martins Caravans near Clyst St George. Anthony sold the business in 1999 to a former employee who has since retired. The same grandfather was Sheriff of Exeter and, in 1968, Mayor of Exeter, reports Exeter Memories.

Martin formed Coldplay with fellow University College London students Guy Berryman, Will Champion, and Phil Harvey. In 1996, the group began playing music together. Coldplay co-manager Phil recalls his decades long friendship with the front man dating back to when they were just 13.

He told Music Business Worldwide: "We were best friends and even then we dreamed of doing something in music together. Thankfully I had enough self-knowledge to know I wasn’t going to be a performer, but Chris was prodigiously talented, even at 13.

"After school, Chris went to University College London and I went to Trinity College, Oxford. He met Jonny, Will and Guy in his first year there and he shared a flat with Jonny on Camden Road where I could come and stay with them. I was aware that they were starting to write songs together and were talking about getting a band together."

By some miracle, a scout for Universal Music was one of the four people in attendance at one of the band's early gigs in the late-90s and one thing led to another which led to the band signing with Parlophone. Some early songs were nothing but a "blip" on the charts, but everything changed for the band when Martin wrote and released Yellow.

Throughout their journey, Coldplay has sold an impressive over 100 million albums, featuring fan favourites like 'Yellow' and 'Viva La Vida', enriching Exeter's own Chris Martin along with his band members.

Besides his musical achievements, Martin is equally known for his former star-studded relationship with Hollywood's Gwyneth Paltrow, the mother of his two children. Their separation, famously dubbed 'conscious uncoupling', made headlines back in 2014.

The 47-year-old has been linked to Dakota Johnson, however, there is a huge question mark currently over the status of their relationship after it was reported in August 2024 that they had quietly split after seven years together. However, a few days later, a rep for the couple told the Independent: "The reports are not true. They are happily together."

But what's the estimated net worth of frontman Chris Martin? According to Heart, the Devon-born singer is worth a whopping £160 million. This can be credited to Coldplay's illustrious career which includes collaborations with industry giants like Rihanna and Korean supergroup BTS.

Their fame doesn't stop there; they've even performed in the presence of royalty, participating in Prince William's Earthshot Prize ceremony in 2021, promoting the eco-conscious accolade. Nevertheless, speaking with NME in 2021, Martin revealed that after their ninth studio album, Coldplay intends to halt new music productions following their twelfth record.

When queried about whether this truly is the future for Coldplay, he replied: "I don't think that's what we'll do. I know that's what we'll do in terms of studio albums." Even if their twelfth album marks the end, Coldplay will undoubtedly continue to rake in record sales.

Now in 2024, the band has confirmed a new string of UK tour dates for summer 2025. Chris and the band have embarked on one of their longest-lasting and biggest tours to date to promote album 'Music of the Spheres'.

The full list of dates:

• August 18: Hull, Craven Park Stadium
• August 19: Hull, Craven Park Stadium
• August 22: London, Wembley Stadium
• August 23: London, Wembley Stadium
• August 26: London, Wembley Stadium
• August 27: London, Wembley Stadium
• August 30: London, Wembley Stadium
• August 31: London, Wembley Stadium

Coldplay enthusiasts looking to increase their odds of securing a ticket have been advised to purchase the band's upcoming album, Moon Music, from the official Coldplay UK or EU Stores. This will make you eligible for the presale, which begins on September 26 at 9am, followed by the general sale on September 27 at 9am.

The band has shared a link to Live Nation for further ticket information. Moreover, a landing page is now active on Ticketmaster, ready for fans to book their spots for the concerts.