What's the best album of all time? That's a topic for another day. What's the most popular album of all time? Well, that's an argument that can be backed up with data.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is an organization that represents America's recording industry. Through its certification program, it helps track total sales of albums, singles, and everything in between. Heard of a platinum record? Then you've heard of an RIAA certification.
"Originally conceived to honor artists and track sound recording sales, Gold & Platinum Awards have come to stand as a benchmark of success for any artist," the RIAA's website states. On this site, the RIAA also compiled the best-selling albums of all time.
Using data from the RIAA, here are the 100 best-selling albums of all time.
100.Lionel Richie - Can't Slow Down
Riche's second studio album was released in 1983 and has sold 10 million units.
99.Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin's 1969 debut album has sold 10 million copies.
98.MC Hammer - Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em
The success of MC Hammer's breakout hit "U Can't Touch This" helped the 1990 record sell 10 million copies.
97.Green Day - Dookie
Green Day's 1994 major label debut has sold 10 million copies.
96.George Michael - Faith
Michael's 1987 debut record has sold over 10 million copies.
95.Garth Brooks - Sevens

Get ready for a run of Garth Brooks records. His 1997 album has sold over 10 million copies.
94.Garth Brooks - In Pieces

Garth's sixth album debuted at number one and has sold 10 million units.
93.Garth Brooks - Garth Brooks

His 1989 debut studio album sold over 10 million copies
92.Garth Brooks - The Hits

Garth's first greatest hits album has sold 10 million units.
91.Garth Brooks - The Ultimate Hits

His most recent greatest hits album was released in 2007 and has sold over 10 million units.
90.Garth Brooks - The Chase

His fifth studio album was released in 1992 and has sold more than 10 million copies.
89.Eric Clapton - Unplugged
Clapton's landmark 1992 MTV Unplugged album has sold more than 10 million units.
88.Eminem - The Eminem Show
Slim Shady's 2002 album has sold over 10 million units.
87.Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem's third studio album has over 10 million units in sales.
86.Elvis Presley - Elvis' Christmas Album
His third studio album and first Christmas album was Elvis' first to attain Diamond certification with over 10 million copies sold.
85.Doobie Brothers - Best of the Doobies
The first greatest hits record from The Doobie Brothers has sold more than 10 million units.
84.Def Leppard - Pyromania
Def Leppard's 1983 record has sold more than 10 million copies.
83.Creedence Clearwater Revival - Chronicle: 20 Greatest Hits
The greatest hits compilation is the best-selling record in their catalog with over 10 million copies sold.
82.Celine Dion - Let's Talk About Love
Dion's fifth English-language album has sold more than 10 million units since its 1997 release.
81.Carole King - Tapestry
King's 1972 record has sold more than 10 million copies.
80.Britney Spears - Oops!...I Did It Again
Britney's sophomore effort has sold over 10 million copies since its 2000 release.
79.Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band - Greatest Hits
The 1994 compilation album is Seger's most successful to date with over 10 million units sold.
78.Billy Joel - The Stranger
Joel's hit 1977 record has sold over 10 million copies.
77.Beastie Boys - Licensed To Ill
The debut record from Beastie Boys has sold over 10 million copies since its 1986 release.
76.2 Pac - Greatest Hits
The posthumous compilation album is one of 2Pac's best-selling as it has over 10 million copies sold.
75.2 Pac - All Eyez On Me
The fourth album and last to be released before his death has sold over 10 million units.
74.The Chicks - Fly
The Chicks 1999 album has sold over 11 million units since its release.
73.The Beatles - 1
The Beatles compilation record has sold more than 11 million units.
72.The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
The Beatles eighth studio album has garnered over 11 million units sold.
71.Soundtrack - Dirty Dancing
The soundtrack to the 1987 film has sold more than 11 million units.
70.Soundtrack - Titanic
The hit soundtrack has over 11 million units sold since its 1997 release.
69.Shania Twain - Up!
Shania's fourth studio album has sold more than 11 million units.
68.Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
Outkast's fifth studio album has over 11 million units since its 2003 release.
67.Notorious B.I.G. - Life After Death
Biggie's final album has sold over 11 million units.
66.NSYNC - No Strings Attached
NSYNC's second studio album has more than 11 million copies sold.
65.Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy
Zeppelin's fifth studio album has over 11 million units sold since its 1973 release.
64.Kid Rock - Devil Without A Cause
Kid Rock's 1998 breakthrough album sold over 11 million copies.
63.James Taylor - James Taylor's Greatest Hits
Taylor's debut compilation has sold over 11 million units.
62.Eagles - Eagles Greatest Hits Volume II
The second compilation from the Eagles has sold over 11 million copies since its 1982 release.
61.Creed - Human Clay
Creed's second album in 1999 has over 11 million copies sold.
60.Celine Dion - Falling Into You
Dion's 1996 album has over 11 million units sold.
59.Aerosmith Aerosmith's Greatest Hits
Aerosmith's 1980 greatest hits album has sold over 11 million copies.
58.Adele - 25
Adele's third studio album has sold more than 11 million units since its 2015 release.
57.Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers -Greatest Hits
The 1993 greatest hits record has sold more than 11 million copies.
56.TLC - CrazySexyCool
TLC's sophomore album has sold over 11 million copies since its 1994 release.
55.The Rolling Stones - Hot Rocks
The 1971 compilation album has sold more than 12 million units since being released.
54.The Beatles - Abbey Road
The Beatles 11th studio album has over 12 million copies sold since its 1969 release.
53.Soundtrack - Forrest Gump
The film's soundtrack has over 12 million units sold since its 1994 release.
52.Shania Twain - The Woman in Me
Twain's second album has sold over 12 million copies.
51.Phil Collins - No Jacket Required
Collins' 1985 record has more than 12 million units sold.
50.Matchbox Twenty - Yourself or Someone Like You
The 1996 debut from Matchbox Twenty has sold over 12 million copies.
49.Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park's 2000 debut record has sold over 12 million units since its release.
48.Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II
The 1969 album has sold more than 12 million units.
47.Kenny Rogers - Kenny Rogers' Greatest Hits
Kenny Rogers' second compilation album has more than 12 million copies sold since 1980.
46.Kenny G - Breathless
The 1992 album has sold more than 12 million copies.
45.Jewel - Pieces of You
Jewel's 1995 debut album has more than 12 million units sold since its release.
44.Def Leppard - Hysteria
The 1987 record has more than 12 million units sold.
43.Boyz II Men - II
The 1994 record from Boyz II Men has sold more than 12 million copies.
42.Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet
Bon Jovi's 1986 album has more than 12 million units in sales since its release.
41.Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston
Whitney's 1985 debut record has more than 13 million units sold since its release.
40.The Chicks - Wide Open Spaces
The Chicks fourth album and major label debut has sold more than 13 million copies.
39.Prince & The Revolution - Purple Rain (Soundtrack)
Prince's landmark soundtrack has had over 13 million units sold.
38.Pearl Jam - Ten
Pearl Jam's debut has sold over 13 million copies since its 1991 release.
37.Bruce Springsteen - Bruce Springsteen & E Street Band Live 1975-'85
The compilation album capturing various live recordings has sold more than 13 million units.
36.Backstreet Boys - Millennium
The 1999 record has over 13 million copies sold.
35.Steve Miller Band - Greatest Hits 1974-1978
The 1978 compilation record has sold more than 14 million copies.
34.Simon & Garfunkel - Simon & Garfunkel's Greatest Hits
The greatest hits compilation has over 14 million units sold.
33.Meat Loaf - Bat Out of Hell
Meat Loaf's 1977 debut sold more than 14 million copies.
32.Garth Brooks - Ropin' in the Wind

Garth's third studio album has sold over 14 million units.
31.Britney Spears - Baby One More Time
Britney Spears' debut record has more than 14 million copies sold.
30.Backstreet Boys - Backstreet Boys
Backstreet Boys debut record sold more than 14 million units since its 1996 release.
29.Adele - 21
Adele's sophomore album has more than 14 million units in sales.
28.The Beatles - The Beatles 1962-1966
The Beatles compilation record highlighting their early years has sold over 15 million copies.
27.Santana - Supernatural
Santana's 1999 record sold over 15 million units.
26.Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
The legendary Pink Floyd album has sold more than 15 million copies.
25.Journey - Greatest Hits
Journey's compilation album has over 15 million units of sales.
24.Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A.
Springsteen's 1984 album has sold more than 15 million copies since its release.
23.Bob Marley & The Wailers - Legend
The 1984 compilation album has over 15 million copies sold since its release.
22.Metallica - Metallica
Also known as The Black Album, the 1991 record has sold more than 15 million copies.
21.Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
The 1975 record has sold more than 16 million units since its release.
20.Bee Gees - Saturday Night Fever (Soundtrack)
The soundtrack from the 1977 film has over 16 million copies sold.
19.Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill
Morissette's breakthrough 1995 record has over 16 million copies sold.
18.The Beatles - The Beatles 1967-1970
The compilation record highlighting the latter part of the band's career has sold more than 17 million copies.
17.Elton John - Greatest Hits
Over 17 million copies of Elton's compilation album have been sold.
16.Boston - Boston
Boston's debut album has over 17 million units sold.
15.Whitney Houston - The Bodyguard (Soundtrack
The 1992 soundtrack from Whitney Houston has over 18 million units sold.
14.Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction
Guns N' Roses debut album has more than 18 million copies sold.
13.Garth Brooks - No Fences

Garth's second studio album has sold over 18 million units.
12.Shania Twain - Come On Over
Shania Twain's third studio record has more than 20 million copies sold.
11.Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
The landmark Fleetwood Mac record has over 20 million units sold.
10.Hootie & the Blowfish - Cracked Rear View
Hootie's massively successful record has over 21 million units sold.
9.Garth Brooks - Double Live

The 1998 live album has more than 21 million copies sold.
8.Pink Floyd - The Wall
Pink Floyd's best-selling album has over 23 million units in sales.
7.Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV
Led Zeppelin's 1971 album has more than 23 million copies sold.
6.Billy Joel - Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II
Billy Joel's best-selling compilation record has sold over 23 million units.
5.The Beatles -The Beatles
Commonly known as The White Album, The Beatles record has over 24 million units in sales.
4.AC/DC - Back in Black
AC/DC's 1980 album has sold over 25 million copies.
3.Eagles - Hotel California
The 1976 Eagles record has sold more than 26 million copies.
2.Michael Jackson - Thriller
Michael Jackson's sixth studio album has sold more than 33 million copies.
1.Eagles - Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975
The best-selling album of all time belongs to this Eagles compilation with a remarkable 38 million copies sold.
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