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According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the achievement of surpassing 15 million copies sold within the United States remains an extraordinarily rare accomplishment, reached by only a select group of albums across the decades. Among these, the most decorated title is the Eagles’ compilation *Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)*, which holds the record as the highest-certified album in RIAA history. In stark contrast, the most recent entry into this exclusive pantheon is *Dookie* by Green Day, which has only recently crossed the threshold into this distinguished category.

The RIAA, functioning as the premier organization responsible for monitoring and authenticating the commercial success of music recordings, awards certifications at several notable milestones. These include gold, platinum, and diamond designations—each serving as markers of escalating commercial success. In order to receive certification, however, artists or their record labels must initiate the process by submitting requests for formal verification of both physical sales and digital streaming equivalents. This procedural requirement occasionally results in the paradox that certain massively popular works have not yet been certified, despite astronomical commercial performance. Nevertheless, the RIAA continues to stand as one of the most trusted and prestigious arbiters of artistic and marketplace success within the recording industry.

Currently, only a very limited number of albums—just a few dozen out of the countless thousands released in the United States—have achieved the highly coveted status of 15-times platinum or higher. To put this in perspective, such a certification signifies that an album has sold over 15 million units domestically, a feat that attests to enduring popularity, cultural relevance, and sustained demand over time. Several legendary musicians dominate this list, including the Eagles, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and Garth Brooks. Each of these titans of the music world holds multiple entries, reflecting careers that have consistently generated blockbuster-level appeal.

The roster is not entirely male-dominated, however. Only four women-led acts have successfully attained this monumental certification level: Alanis Morissette with her groundbreaking *Jagged Little Pill*, Shania Twain’s genre-defining *Come On Over*, Fleetwood Mac’s seminal *Rumours*—fronted in part by the talents of Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie—and Whitney Houston, whose powerhouse vocals anchored *The Bodyguard* soundtrack. Their presence underscores significant though relatively scarce female representation at the highest level of commercial music triumph.

The following compilation represents the 31 albums that have reached this extraordinary echelon, arranged in chronological order of their official RIAA certification milestones:

1. *The Dark Side of the Moon* by Pink Floyd — Released in 1973 through Harvest/Capitol, this landmark album received its 15x platinum certification on June 4, 1998, solidifying its legacy as one of the most durable rock records of all time.

2. *Jagged Little Pill* by Alanis Morissette — Launched in 1995 via Maverick/Reprise, it achieved 16x platinum status by July 29, 1998, ultimately updated to 17x platinum on January 12, 2024.

3. *The Wall* by Pink Floyd — Debuting in 1979, this ambitious double album under Pink Floyd Music Ltd/Sony climbed to an astounding 23x platinum by January 29, 1999.

4. *1962–1966* by The Beatles — Released in 1973 through Apple and affectionately named “The Red Album,” it earned 15x platinum certification on February 6, 2001.

5. *Boston* by Boston — Emerging in 1976 under Epic Records, it later reached 17x platinum certification on November 20, 2003.

6. *Supernatural* by Santana — Issued in 1999 through Arista, the collaborative masterpiece attained 15x platinum certification on December 10, 2003.

7. *Come On Over* by Shania Twain — Released in 1997 on Mercury Nashville, this record became a milestone in crossover success, certified 20x platinum on November 15, 2004.

8. *Physical Graffiti* by Led Zeppelin — Entering the world in 1975 on the Swan Song label, this influential classic reached 16x platinum on January 30, 2006.

9. *Double Live* by Garth Brooks — Since its 1998 release through Capitol Nashville, this defining live album grew to 21x platinum by November 1, 2006, with its certification impressively updated to 23x platinum on November 14, 2023.

10. *Greatest Hits* by Journey — Released in 1988 via Columbia/Sony, this anthology achieved 15x platinum certification on April 22, 2008, later updated to 18x platinum as of January 26, 2024.

11. *Appetite for Destruction* by Guns N’ Roses — The 1987 landmark debut album from Geffen secured its place at 18x platinum on September 23, 2008.

12. *1967–1970* by The Beatles — Fondly nicknamed the “Blue Album,” it first appeared in 1973 and secured RIAA certification of 17x platinum on August 27, 2010.

13. *Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II* by Billy Joel — Released in 1985 on Columbia, this career-spanning collection attained a remarkable 23x platinum certification on October 26, 2011.

14. *Metallica* by Metallica — Famously known as the “Black Album,” this 1991 release under Elektra grew to 16x platinum by December 13, 2012, and more recently reached 20x platinum on May 28, 2025.

15. *Legend* by Bob Marley & The Wailers — First available in 1984 via Island Records, this powerful compilation attained 15x platinum on May 23, 2014, before later updates recognized it at 18x platinum on December 6, 2024.

16. *Rumours* by Fleetwood Mac — This 1977 Warner Bros classic earned 20x platinum by October 3, 2014, with its most recent update raising it to 21x platinum on July 19, 2023.

17. *Greatest Hits* by Elton John — Released in 1974 through Island, this definitive anthology attained 17x platinum recognition on April 28, 2016.

18. *Saturday Night Fever* by the Bee Gees — Born as a 1977 soundtrack via RSO that epitomized the disco era, it surged to 16x platinum by November 16, 2017.

19. *The Bodyguard* by Whitney Houston — Released in 1992 under RCA, the film soundtrack featuring Houston’s iconic performances gained 18x platinum certification on November 17, 2017, then was updated further to 19x platinum on June 25, 2025.

20. *Cracked Rear View* by Hootie & the Blowfish — Introduced in 1994 through Atlantic Records, this debut claimed 21x platinum on May 21, 2018, and later increased to 22x platinum on June 20, 2024.

21. *Hotel California* by the Eagles — Released in 1976 on Asylum Records, this iconic release reached 26x platinum as of August 20, 2018.

22. *Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)* by the Eagles — Published in 1976 by Asylum, this unparalleled collection continues to set benchmarks, soaring to 38x platinum certification on August 20, 2018.

23. *The Beatles* by The Beatles — Commonly referred to as the “White Album,” this 1968 release on Apple Records reached 24x platinum on February 21, 2019.

24. *Back in Black* by AC/DC — The 1980 global rock phenomenon released on Columbia gained 25x platinum by December 6, 2019, with certification updated to 27x platinum by August 21, 2024.

25. *No Fences* by Garth Brooks — Arriving in 1990 on Pearl Records, this country milestone grew to 18x platinum by February 14, 2020.

26. *Thriller* by Michael Jackson — Released in 1982 under Epic Records, this cultural juggernaut still stands tall, awarded 34x platinum certification as of August 20, 2021.

27. *Greatest Hits 1974–78* by the Steve Miller Band — Published in 1978 via Capitol/Mercury, this durable compilation reached 15x platinum on October 27, 2021.

28. *Led Zeppelin IV* by Led Zeppelin — Officially untitled though widely known by its nickname, this monumental 1971 Atlantic release reached 24x platinum on November 8, 2021.

29. *Born in the U.S.A.* by Bruce Springsteen — Released in 1984 by Columbia, it became certified 17x platinum on May 25, 2022.

30. *Slippery When Wet* by Bon Jovi — Originating in 1986 via Mercury Records, this hit-driven work reached 15x platinum on July 23, 2024.

31. *Dookie* by Green Day — The 1994 punk-rock breakthrough from Reprise Records concluded this list by attaining 20x platinum on September 16, 2024.

Together, these 31 projects not only encapsulate extraordinary sales figures but also embody the unique ability of certain artists and recordings to transcend time, fashion, and shifting industry models. Their combined success tells a broader story—one of cultural influence, business triumph, and artistic resonance—that continues to shape the contours of music history today.

Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/best-selling-albums-ever-all-time-riaa-certified-platinum