Singer Teddy Swims makes shock salary confession on Aussie radio

Chart-topping singer Teddy Swims has dropped a bombshell about his true earnings, exposing the harsh reality behind his meteoric rise to fame.

Teddy Swims is making waves in the music industry, clocking up 8.7 billion global streams with his hit songs and selling out arenas worldwide.

But the American singer revealed on Aussie radio this morning that he isn’t exactly rolling in the big bucks despite his soaring success.

Following his performance at the NRL Grand Final earlier this month, Swims – real name Jaten Dimsdale – dropped by Triple M’s The Rush Hour with Maroon & Hindy on Wednesday to confess that he only made $US20K in the last year.

“Last year was the first time that we had kind of broke the even margin on touring and I actually made money for the first time last year,” he told hosts Anthony Maroon and Nathan “Hindy” Hindmarsh, a former NRL star.

“So this year we’re kind of in the black and, you know, finally making money.”

Teddy Swims revealed on Aussie radio that he earned just $20K last year.

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Swims, 33, said that it took five years of touring to “really start seeing anything”. His touring repertoire includes four pit stops in Australia – one in 2022, 2023, 2024 and this month, where he kicked off his I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy Tour shows last night in Sydney before soon heading to Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

“So a lot of people think you’re doing great if you’re playing arenas and stuff, but a lot of times we’re, like, barely breaking even if that,” shared Swims, who has also toured the UK and Europe.

“I think we made like, 20 grand or something like that. Last year was the first time we ever made [money]. But everybody’s paid and everybody’s fed, so I would say that’s successful, but now we’re finally in the black.”

The singer got his start in 2019 by releasing covers on YouTube from his makeshift studio in his bedroom, which drew in millions of views with a loyal fanbase.

After releasing his six-track EP in 2022, Tough Love, Swims released his debut album, I’ve Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 1) in 2023, which included his hit track Lose Control.

The single topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US and spent 36 weeks in the Top 10, making it the second longest-running Top 10 hit in Billboard history.

Swims performs during the pre-game entertainment ahead of the NRL Grand Final in Sydney on October 5. Picture: Izhar KHAN / AFP

His follow-up album released in January this year titled, I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2), experienced similar success, debuting at No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart.

The record – featuring his big tracks Bad Dreams, Are You Even Real (ft. Givēon), and Guilty – also landed in the Top 5 in the US, UK and New Zealand.

Swims, who was nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammys earlier this year, has also caught the attention of the NRL, with the powerhouse singer asked to be the headline act at the NRL Grand Final on October 5.

“I am so excited to be performing at the 2025 NRL Grand Final! Australia has always been a second home to me,” Swims said in a statement ahead of his performance.

“Every time I am there I am overwhelmed by how welcoming the people are, I fall more in love with the culture, and just everything about it. So, to be welcomed to perform one of the biggest nights in Australia is a huge honour.”