The Eagles have reached an unprecedented milestone in music history as their compilation album Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) has become the first album ever to achieve quadruple diamond status, officially selling over 40 million copies in the United States.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced the certification, cementing the album's position as America's best-selling album of all time. The achievement comes as the band approaches the 50th anniversary of the album's original release on February 17th, 1976.
"In an age, in a culture, where everything seems to become more ephemeral, by the day, it is gratifying to have been part of something that endures, even for 50 years," Eagles founding member Don Henley told the Associated Press.
The album, which features classics like "Take It Easy," "Witchy Woman," and "The Best of My Love," was the first album ever to receive platinum certification from the RIAA back in 1976.
Michael Jackson's Thriller remains in second place with 34-times platinum certification. Remarkably, the Eagles also hold the third spot on the all-time best-sellers list with "Hotel California," which has now been certified 28-times platinum, according to Rolling Stone.
The band is celebrating this historic achievement with several special events. A crystal-clear 180-gram vinyl edition of "Their Greatest Hits" will be released exclusively through the band's website on February 13th, just ahead of the album's 50th anniversary.
Additionally, the Eagles are continuing their residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas, with 12 more shows scheduled between January and March 2026. When completed, this run will break the record for the longest residency at the revolutionary venue. The band has already performed 44 sold-out shows at the Sphere, reaching more than 700,000 fans.
The RIAA's certification methods have evolved over time. Since 2013, streaming equivalents have been included in certification calculations, with 1,500 streams counting as one album sale. However, the Eagles' achievement is particularly impressive considering most of their sales occurred in the physical format era, long before streaming existed.
The Eagles, currently consisting of Don Henley, Joe Walsh, and Timothy B. Schmit, along with Vince Gill and Deacon Frey, have sold more than 150 million albums worldwide throughout their career. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 and received Kennedy Center Honors in 2016.