Albums: Thriller vs Eagles' Greatest Hits

Thriller is Guinness's all-time #1 (~70M worldwide), but the Eagles lead the US at 38x platinum.

The top 3

  1. Thriller (1982) — Michael Jackson: Guinness-recognized best-selling album ever, with worldwide estimates around 70 million and a 34x platinum US certification.
  2. Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) — Eagles: RIAA's best-selling US album at 38x platinum (~38M), it overtook Thriller for the American crown back in 2018.
  3. Why the totals clash: Worldwide figures are unaudited estimates while RIAA counts certified shipments, so 'best-seller' depends on which yardstick you pick.

Sources

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