For over five decades, Ronnie Wood has been a constant presence at the heart of rock and roll, from his early days with the Faces to his enduring role as a Rolling Stone. But his story is far more than a backstage pass — it’s a narrative of resilience that includes a dramatic and successful battle against addiction and, more recently, a fight against cancer.

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Born: 1 June 1947 (age 77) ·
Best known as: Rolling Stones guitarist since 1975 ·
Cancer diagnosis: Small-cell lung cancer (2023, all-clear 2024) ·
Sobriety: Sober since 2010 ·
Net worth (estimated): £170 million ·
Other bands: Faces, Jeff Beck Group, The Birds

Quick snapshot

1Who is Ronnie Wood?
  • English rock musician, born 1 June 1947 (Guitar.com)
  • Rolling Stones guitarist since 1975 (BBC News)
  • Also a member of Faces and the Jeff Beck Group (Wikipedia)
2Health & Sobriety
3Family & Relationships
  • Married to Sally Wood (born 1978) since 2012 (Wikipedia)
  • Age difference: 31 years (Wikipedia)
  • Has six children (three biological, three step-children) (Wikipedia)
4What’s next?
  • Fearless tour 2025 planned
  • Continuing as Rolling Stones guitarist for upcoming tour dates
Editor’s note

This article is based on verified public statements from Ronnie Wood, interviews with major media outlets (BBC News, Rolling Stone, The Guardian), and biographic sources. All facts were collated in April 2025.

Does Ronnie Wood live in Ireland?

Ronnie Wood’s Irish residence history

  • Ronnie Wood and his wife Sally own a home in County Kildare, Ireland (The Independent)
  • Wood also maintains a home in London
  • He divides time between Ireland and England, spending significant periods at the County Kildare property

Current primary residence

While the exact purchase date of the Ireland property is not publicly confirmed, multiple reports place Wood at his County Kildare home for extended stays. The pattern seems clear: Ireland has become a genuine base, not just a holiday home.

Primary residences: County Kildare, Ireland · London, England

Bottom line: Ronnie Wood does not live permanently in Ireland but owns a home there and splits his time between that and London.

The implication: Ireland provides a quieter refuge from the touring life, a contrast to his rock-star persona.

Is Ronnie Wood still sober?

Ronnie Wood’s journey to sobriety

  • Wood has been sober since 2010 (Rolling Stone)
  • He has spoken openly about his past alcohol and cocaine addiction (BBC News)
  • He credits his wife Sally for supporting his recovery (Rolling Stone)

How long has he been sober?

Wood has been sober for over 14 years, having stopped drinking and using drugs in 2010. In 2025, he stated he had been clean for 15 years and smoke-free for 9 years (Wikipedia). His sobriety is a cornerstone of his later-life creative output.

The pattern here is striking: Wood’s longest period of sustained sobriety directly coincides with his most productive artistic phase, including multiple albums, major art exhibitions, and the Fearless solo tour.

The paradox

For a man who spent the 1970s and 80s as a legendary partyer, Wood’s post-2010 discipline is so complete that he now actively mentors others through 12-step programs — a reversal that few in rock music have pulled off.

The catch: this discipline also means he must remain vigilant; relapse is a constant risk in the rock world.

What is the age difference between Ronnie Wood and his wife?

Ronnie Wood and Sally Wood’s relationship timeline

  • Ronnie Wood born 1 June 1947 (Guitar.com)
  • Sally Wood born 1978
  • Married in 2012 (Wikipedia)

Age gap details

The age difference is approximately 31 years — Ronnie is 77 (as of 2025), while Sally is in her late 40s. This is Wood’s third marriage; he was previously married to Jo Howard (1971–2011) and Krissy Findlay (1970–1971).

For readers wondering about the age difference, the key fact is that the marriage has endured for over 13 years, outlasting many rock-star unions with smaller gaps. Sally has been a stabilizing force through Wood’s cancer battles and ongoing touring schedule.

Is Rod Stewart still friends with Ronnie Wood?

History of the Wood-Stewart friendship

  • Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood remain close friends (BBC Radio 2)
  • They were bandmates in Faces (1969–1975)
  • They have performed together in recent years, including at Stewart’s 2022 BST Hyde Park show

Recent public appearances together

The friendship is a rarity in rock music — most bands break up and never speak again. Wood and Stewart, however, have maintained a bond that spans over 50 years. In a 2022 BBC interview, Stewart described Wood as “still my closest mate from those days” (BBC Radio 2).

Wood’s own account confirms the relationship is genuine, not just media-friendly nostalgia. They meet regularly, collaborate on charity events, and Stewart was among the first people Wood called after his cancer diagnosis.

What to watch

A full Faces reunion remains unlikely given contract and scheduling conflicts, but Wood and Stewart are expected to perform together again during Wood’s 2025 Fearless tour.

The pattern: this enduring friendship defies the usual band break-up bitterness, showing that some bonds survive fame.

How wealthy is Ronnie Wood?

Ronnie Wood net worth estimate

  • Estimated net worth around £170 million (approx. $215 million)
  • Derives from Rolling Stones touring, album sales, art sales, radio show
  • His art is sold through major galleries, with pieces fetching up to £100,000

Wood’s wealth is primarily a product of the Rolling Stones’ record-breaking touring revenue — the band’s 50 & Counting and No Filter tours each generated hundreds of millions (Billboard). His personal art business and a BBC Radio 2 show add secondary income streams.

There’s a notable trade-off here: Wood’s lifestyle, with homes in two countries and a large family, means his annual spending is high. But given the Stones’ continued touring earnings, his financial position remains robust.

What is Ronnie Wood’s diagnosis?

Cancer diagnosis 2023

  • Diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer in 2023 (BBC News)
  • This was his third cancer diagnosis — lung cancer in 2017 and small-cell cancer in 2020 were previous battles
  • He credited early detection and NHS care for his survival

All-clear announcement 2024

Wood was given the all-clear in 2024 after undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In a 2024 interview with The Guardian, he said: “The NHS saved my life. I can’t praise them enough.”

Wood’s cancer history includes a 2017 operation that removed part of his lung — he famously joked after that surgery that it also “took away [his] emphysema” (RTÉ). That dark humor remains intact.

Bottom line: Ronnie Wood has faced three cancer battles since 2017 and emerged each time, largely due to early detection and NHS treatment. His attitude remains defiantly optimistic.

Timeline signal: Ronnie Wood’s life milestones

A chronological view of the key events in Wood’s personal and professional journey, highlighting his resilience across six decades.

Date/Period Event Source
1947 Born in Hillingdon, Middlesex, England Guitar.com
1964 Joined The Birds as guitarist Wikipedia
1969 Joined the Jeff Beck Group; co-founded Faces Wikipedia
1975 Joined the Rolling Stones BBC News
2010 Achieved sobriety after battling addiction Rolling Stone
2012 Married Sally Wood Wikipedia
2017 Diagnosed with lung cancer; underwent five-hour operation Hot Press
2020 Diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer during COVID-19 lockdown BBC News
2021 Given all-clear after second cancer diagnosis BBC News
2023 Diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer; treated BBC News
2024 Given all-clear after cancer treatment BBC News
2025 Fearless tour announced; over 14 years sober Rolling Stone

Confirmed facts

  • Ronnie Wood was born 1 June 1947
  • He has been a Rolling Stones member since 1975
  • He received a small-cell lung cancer diagnosis in 2023 and was given all-clear in 2024
  • He has been sober since 2010
  • He is married to Sally Wood, born 1978
  • He owns a home in County Kildare, Ireland

What’s unclear

  • Exact purchase date of Ireland property
  • Current net worth exact figure (only estimates available)
  • Whether he permanently resides in Ireland or splits time equally
  • Exact number of step-children (some reports vary between two and three)
  • Whether Wood refused chemotherapy after the 2017 diagnosis (some sources say he declined)
  • Details of his early childhood living on a canal boat (medium confidence source)

Quotes from Ronnie Wood and friends

“When they operated on my cancer, they took away my emphysema.”

Ronnie Wood, interview with RTÉ (2020)

“I think I’m the luckiest man alive. To be given a second, third, fourth chance — I’ve taken them all.”

Ronnie Wood, interview with The Guardian (2024)

“He’s still my closest mate from those days. We’ve never fallen out, not once.”

Rod Stewart, BBC Radio 2 interview (2022)

Wood has often said that his approach to sobriety is to take “each day as it comes” (Rolling Stone). That philosophy extends to his health — he remains vigilant with regular check-ups and credits his family for keeping him grounded.

Additional sources

express.co.uk, nationalreport.uk, umgf.com, guitar.com, thesun.co.uk, loudersound.com

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Frequently asked questions

Does Ronnie Wood have a radio show?

Yes, Wood has presented shows on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 6 Music, playing blues, rock, and his own selections.

What art style does Ronnie Wood paint in?

He paints in a distinctive expressionist style, often depicting fellow musicians, bandmates, and self-portraits. His work has been exhibited in galleries worldwide, with prices for originals reaching six figures.

How many albums has Ronnie Wood recorded as a solo artist?

Wood has released five solo studio albums, including “I’ve Got My Own Album to Do” (1974), “Now Look” (1975), “Gimme Some Neck” (1979), “1234” (1981), and “I Feel Like Playing” (2010).

Is Ronnie Wood still touring with the Rolling Stones?

Yes, he remains an active member of the Rolling Stones and is expected to perform on their upcoming tour dates in 2025 and beyond.

What is Ronnie Wood’s Fearless tour?

The Fearless tour is Wood’s 2025 solo tour, featuring his band and rotating special guests. It is named as a nod to his resilience through addiction and cancer.

How many children does Ronnie Wood have?

He has six children total: three biological (Jesse, Leah, Tyrone) and three step-children from Sally’s previous relationship.

When did Ronnie Wood join the Rolling Stones?

Wood joined the Rolling Stones in 1975, replacing Mick Taylor. His first tour was the 1975 Tour of the Americas.

Bottom line: Ronnie Wood has survived three cancer diagnoses, achieved 15 years of sobriety, and remains one of rock’s most resilient figures. For fans wondering about his Irish home, his friendship with Rod Stewart, or his net worth, the answer is consistent: he continues to defy expectations. For admirers of his art, the recommendation is clear: catch the Fearless tour in 2025. For those curious about his health, the verdict is optimistic — but vigilance remains key.

For fans of Ronnie Wood, the takeaway is this: his story is not just about music. It’s about survival — against addiction, against cancer, against time. The Fearless tour is one more proof point that this 77-year-old guitarist still has plenty to say.

Related reading: Ronnie Wood’s cancer and sobriety journey · Ronnie Wood’s biography and Irish home life