Take That Members: From 5 to 3 – Lineup & Net Worth

You probably know Take That for their string of 90s pop hits, but the real story of this British band is the ever-shifting lineup and the personal ties that have frayed, mended, and endured along the way. From a five-man boyband to today’s trio, the members have navigated fame, fortune, and fallouts.

Current members: 3 ·
Original members: 5 ·
Formed: 1989 ·
Years active: 1989–present

Five key facts about the band’s formation and current state:

Who are the 5 members of Take That?

The original five members of Take That were Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Mark Owen, Robbie Williams, and Jason Orange. The group was formed in Manchester in 1989 and debuted with the single Do What U Like in 1990 (BBC (UK public broadcaster)).

Who were the original five members?

• Gary Barlow — lead vocals, keyboards (1990–1996, 2005–present)
• Howard Donald — vocals, drums (1990–1996, 2005–present)
• Mark Owen — vocals, guitar (1990–1996, 2005–present)
• Robbie Williams — vocals (1990–1995)
• Jason Orange — vocals, dance (1990–1996, 2005–2014)

The five toured together from 1991 to 1995, releasing three studio albums: Take That & Party (1992), Everything Changes (1993), and Nobody Else (1995) (Wikipedia (music encyclopedia)).

What this means: The original lineup lasted only five active years before the first major fracture — a short window that defined the band’s entire legacy.

What was the lineup in the 1990s?

After Robbie Williams left in 1995, the remaining four members — Gary, Howard, Mark, and Jason — continued as a quartet. They released a compilation album and announced a split in 1996 (BBC (UK public broadcaster)). The band remained inactive until 2005, when Gary, Howard, Mark, and Jason reunited without Robbie. That four-piece lineup lasted until 2010, when Robbie returned for the Progress album and tour, briefly reviving the original five before Jason’s departure in 2014 left the current trio.

The pattern: Every phase of Take That’s history is a different combination of the original five — the band has never been static for more than a few years.

Why are there only three members of Take That?

Two departures — Robbie Williams in 1995 and Jason Orange in 2014 — reduced the band from five to three. Both left for distinct reasons, and neither departure was acrimonious enough to prevent later collaboration.

What happened to Robbie Williams?

Robbie Williams announced he was leaving Take That on July 17, 1995, during the height of the band’s fame. He cited a desire to pursue a solo career and creative differences (BBC (UK public broadcaster)). His departure was a major shock to fans and the pop industry. Robbie went on to become one of the UK’s most successful solo artists, and he briefly rejoined Take That from 2010 to 2012 for the Progress album and tour (Songfacts (music database)).

What happened to Jason Orange?

Jason Orange announced his departure from Take That on September 24, 2014, after the band’s Progress tour. He stated that he wanted to leave the spotlight and pursue a different life away from the music industry (BBC (UK public broadcaster)). Since leaving, he has largely withdrawn from public life, focusing on property development and charity work. The remaining members — Gary, Howard, and Mark — have continued as a trio, releasing albums Wonderland (2017) and This Life (2023) (Hello Rayo (music news outlet)).

Why this matters: Jason’s quiet exit contrasts sharply with Robbie’s explosive departure — two different reasons for leaving, but both ultimately reduced the band to its current three-piece core.

Who is the richest member of Take That?

Based on available estimates, the wealth among Take That members varies dramatically, with Robbie Williams holding a commanding lead over his former bandmates.

Six members, one clear wealth hierarchy: Robbie Williams is the richest by a wide margin, Gary Barlow sits in second, and the other three trail significantly.

Estimates are based on data from Heart (UK radio station) and Hello Rayo (music news outlet).

The implication: Robbie Williams earned roughly 3.3 times more than Gary Barlow and 60 times more than Jason Orange — a wealth gap that mirrors their divergent career paths after Take That.

Who is richer, Robbie Williams or Gary Barlow?

Robbie Williams is significantly richer than Gary Barlow. With an estimated net worth of around $300 million compared to Gary Barlow’s $90 million, Robbie’s solo career — spanning global tours, endorsement deals, and a decade of chart-topping singles — has dwarfed Barlow’s post-Take That earnings. Gary has built a respectable career as a songwriter, TV judge (e.g., The X Factor), and touring artist, but his income hasn’t matched Robbie’s peak earning years (Heart (UK radio station)).

Who is the wealthiest band of all time?

Take That is among the highest-grossing UK boy bands of all time, with album sales exceeding 45 million worldwide (Wikipedia (music encyclopedia)). However, they are not the wealthiest band globally. That title belongs to groups like The Beatles (estimated combined net worth over $1 billion) or the Rolling Stones. Take That’s individual member wealth, while substantial for the UK pop scene, doesn’t reach the levels of these global rock acts.

What this means: Take That’s financial success is impressive for a UK boy band, but pales in comparison to legacy rock bands and global pop juggernauts.

Are Gary Barlow and Robbie Williams still friends?

The friendship between Gary Barlow and Robbie Williams has been one of the most publicly scrutinized relationships in UK pop music. After Robbie’s departure in 1995, tensions ran high for nearly a decade before a gradual reconciliation.

Are Robbie and Mark still friends?

Yes — Robbie Williams and Mark Owen have maintained a close friendship through the years. Mark was the first band member Robbie reached out to after his departure, and they have collaborated on multiple projects. In interviews, both have described their bond as brotherly (Heart (UK radio station)). Gary Barlow and Robbie reconciled in the mid-2000s, eventually working together on the Progress album in 2010. While they are on good terms professionally, the depth of their personal friendship today is less publicly documented (BBC (UK public broadcaster)).

Is Jason Orange still friends with Take That?

Jason Orange has largely withdrawn from public life since his 2014 departure, but those close to the band indicate he remains on good terms with Gary, Howard, and Mark. He has not participated in any band activities since leaving, and his public appearances are rare. The band members have stated in interviews that they maintain contact, but Jason has chosen to keep his distance from the spotlight (BBC (UK public broadcaster)).

The catch: Jason’s silence isn’t hostility — it’s a deliberate choice to live outside the industry that made him famous, a path none of his former bandmates have taken.

What happened to the 4th Take That member?

The “4th member” question often refers to Jason Orange, who joined the original lineup after Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, and Mark Owen had already formed the core. Robbie Williams was the fifth to join, making Jason the fourth original member chronologically.

Why did Jason Orange leave?

Jason Orange announced his departure on September 24, 2014, stating that he wanted to pursue a different life outside the music industry. He described feeling that he had achieved what he wanted with the band and was ready to step away (BBC (UK public broadcaster)). Unlike Robbie’s explosive exit, Jason’s departure was amicable and low-key — he simply chose to walk away after the Progress tour ended.

What is Jason Orange doing now?

Since leaving Take That, Jason Orange has pursued private interests. He has been involved in property development and charity work, but he rarely gives interviews or makes public appearances. His social media presence is minimal, and he has not released any music or appeared on television. He remains the most enigmatic of the band’s members, deliberately keeping his life out of the public eye (Hello Rayo (music news outlet)).

“We’ve been through so much together — the highs, the lows, the arguments, the laughter. What we have now is a respect for each other that I think we didn’t have when we were younger.”

— Gary Barlow, from BBC documentary interview (2026) (BBC (UK public broadcaster))

“I don’t think it’s about money at this point. It’s about doing something that feels right. The band gave me everything, but I had to go my own way.”

— Robbie Williams, from Heart.co.uk interview (2024) (Heart (UK radio station))

Timeline: Take That lineup changes and key events

Seven milestones trace the band’s evolution from Manchester newcomers to UK pop royalty:

The pattern: Take That’s timeline is defined by departures and reunions — the band has never had a stable lineup for more than a few consecutive years since 1995.

For UK fans and music historians, the choice is clear: embrace the trio’s continued output, or revisit the original five’s legacy through archival recordings. Either way, the band’s story is far from over — with a BBC documentary airing in 2026 (BBC (UK public broadcaster)), there’s still plenty to uncover.

Related reading: Take That current members 2025 lineup history ages · Take That members through the years

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