Even though the album came out in November 1982, Michael Jackson’s Thriller is still getting bigger.
The Michael Jackson Estate, the Recording Industry Association of America and Epic Records announced today that Thriller has become the first album to reach 30X multi-Platinum sales in the U.S., which means that it has sold 30 million copies.
Overall, Thriller has sold 100 million copies worldwide, the RIAA claimed. Jackson’s entire catalog has sold 1 billion copies combined.
“RIAA has awarded Gold & Platinum records on behalf of the music business for nearly 60 years, but this is the first time an artist has crossed the 30X multi-Platinum plateau,” Cary Sherman, the chairman and CEO of the RIAA, said in a statement. “We are honored to celebrate the unique status of Thriller in Gold & Platinum history. What an exceptional achievement and testament to Thriller’s enduring spot in our hearts and musical history.”
Thriller, produced by Quincy Jones, was already the best-selling album of all time. Seven of the album’s nine songs became Top 10 singles, including the No. 1 hits “Beat It,” “Thriller” and “Billie Jean.” The album won eight Grammys and was No. 1 for 37 consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200 chart. It was on the Billboard chart for two and a half years.