Westlife Members: Original Five, Current Four, and Who Left

If you’ve ever hummed along to “Swear It Again” or “Flying Without Wings,” you’ve already connected with one of the most successful Irish boy bands of all time. Westlife formed in July 1998 with five members — Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, and Brian McFadden — and quickly became a global pop phenomenon.

Original members: 5 ·
Current members: 4 ·
Year formed: 1998 ·
Year Brian McFadden left: 2004 ·
Year reunited: 2018

Six key facts about the band’s identity and lineup, as confirmed by multiple authoritative sources.

Was there 5 members in Westlife?

Yes. Westlife originally debuted with five members. The full original lineup consisted of Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, and Brian McFadden (Ticketmaster Discover). The group was formed in July 1998 in Sligo, Ireland, and the five schoolmates quickly signed with a major label.

Who were the original five members?

• Nicky Byrne (born 1978)
• Shane Filan (born 1979)
• Kian Egan (born 1980)
• Mark Feehily (born 1980)
• Brian McFadden (born 1980)

When was Westlife formed?

The band came together in July 1998 after manager Louis Walsh auditioned the group in Sligo (Wikipedia). Their first single “Swear It Again” topped charts in several countries in 1999.

The pattern: Westlife’s original five-member lineup set the foundation for their global success.

Are Westlife only 3 members now?

No, Westlife currently has four active members: Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan, Kian Egan, and Mark Feehily (BBC). Some confusion arises when Mark Feehily misses shows due to health issues, leaving only three on stage temporarily. But the official lineup remains a quartet.

What is the current Westlife lineup?

• Shane Filan – lead vocals
• Mark Feehily – lead vocals
• Kian Egan – vocals
• Nicky Byrne – vocals

Why do some think there are only three members?

Mark Feehily underwent surgery for a kidney infection in 2022 and has performed intermittently since (Hot Press). During his recovery, the band sometimes appeared as a trio, leading to the misperception that the group had permanently downsized.

The implication: Occasional absences do not change the official roster of four.

Which members left Westlife?

Only one original member has permanently left: Brian McFadden. He departed in 2004 to focus on his family and launch a solo career (YouTube Music). No other original member has exited the band, though the group went on hiatus from 2012 to 2018.

Why did Brian McFadden leave?

McFadden stated he wanted to spend more time with his then-wife Kerry Katona and their children, and to pursue a solo music career (BBC News (UK news outlet)). He later released solo albums and appeared on reality television.

Did any other members leave?

No. All other original members have remained with Westlife continuously (through hiatus and reunion). The band’s current roster is the same four who performed from 2005 onward.

What this means: Only one departure in over two decades reflects the band’s core stability.

How did Shane Filan lose his money?

Shane Filan invested heavily in Irish property during the boom years, and when the market crashed, his property portfolio collapsed. He filed for bankruptcy in 2012, with debts reported at around £18 million (Irish Independent (Irish daily newspaper)).

What caused Shane Filan’s bankruptcy?

Filan had taken out large loans to fund property developments in Sligo and elsewhere. When property values plummeted after the 2008 financial crisis, he was unable to service the debts (The Journal (Irish news site)). He was declared bankrupt in the UK in 2012.

Did he recover financially?

Yes. Filan rebuilt his finances through Westlife’s reunion tours, his solo career, and a memoir. By 2020 he was debt-free and owned a new home in London (Hello! Magazine (celebrity lifestyle publication)).

The catch: Financial recovery was possible due to the band’s reunion and continued touring.

Who is the richest Westlife member?

Kian Egan is widely reported as the wealthiest member of Westlife, with an estimated net worth of around £30 million (IMDb (entertainment database)). His earnings come from music royalties, touring, television appearances (e.g. winning “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!” in 2013), and business ventures.

What is Kian Egan’s net worth?

While exact figures vary across sources, IMDb and several celebrity wealth trackers place Egan as the top earner. His wife Jodi Albert and their family live in a mansion in County Kildare (The Irish Sun (Irish tabloid)).

How do other members compare?

Shane Filan and Nicky Byrne are also estimated to have substantial wealth in the millions, though less than Egan. Mark Feehily’s net worth is less publicly documented, but he has earned from music and his own solo projects (Famous Birthdays (celebrity fact site)).

The result: Kian Egan’s diversified income keeps him at the top.

Westlife lineup timeline

Five key dates define the band’s membership story.

The pattern: one departure early on, followed by a stable four-man lineup that has endured through hiatus, solo detours, and health setbacks.

These distinctions help fans separate verified information from rumors.

Quotes from the band and media

“Westlife’s richest member is Kian Egan!”

IMDb (entertainment database)

“The group consists of members Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan, Kian Egan and Mark Feehily. Brian McFadden was a member before leaving.”

Wikipedia (encyclopedic source)

“I was £25m in debt and had to start again from scratch.” – Shane Filan (Irish Independent)

Westlife’s membership story is one of stability despite early change. One member left, the rest stayed, and the band continues to tour and record. For fans wondering whether the group has fully reunited, the answer is yes — but as a quartet, not the original quintet. For investors or music industry watchers, the lesson from Shane Filan’s bankruptcy is that even top-earning artists can face catastrophic financial risk when over-leveraged in property. The trade-off: the reunion that saved his finances also cemented Westlife’s identity as a four-man act, and that lineup is likely to remain until the band’s final curtain.

For more on the personal side of the band, you can read about Nicky Byrnes personal life and his family.

Frequently asked questions

These answers address common queries about Westlife’s members and history.