Legendary British musician Paul McCartney has officially joined the billionaire club. According to Forbes, the 84-year-old former Beatles member has an estimated net worth of approximately $1.4 billion, making him the third-richest musician in the world.
The ranking was published as part of the launch of Forbes' new newsletter, The Billie. In calculating McCartney's fortune, the magazine took into account his music catalog, concert tours, business deals and art collection.
Only two musicians are wealthier than the British star: rapper Jay-Z, with an estimated net worth of $2.8 billion, and singer Taylor Swift, whose fortune is valued at $2 billion.
Much of McCartney's wealth is tied to his publishing company, MPL Communications, which he founded in 1969. The company manages the rights to his own compositions as well as catalogs belonging to other artists. Its acquisitions include the music rights to Buddy Holly's songs, Broadway musical scores and well-known Christmas standards. Forbes estimates that this part of his business alone has generated around a quarter of a billion dollars for the musician.
Another major source of income is the legacy of The Beatles. McCartney owns a 25% share of the revenue generated by the band's holding company, Apple Corps, which brings in around $50 million annually through streaming services, vinyl sales and merchandise. According to the magazine's calculations, the value of this revenue stream exceeds $150 million for each band member or their heirs.
In addition, McCartney earns around $10 million a year in royalties from The Beatles' songs. He spent two decades fighting legal battles over the rights to the band's music. Forbes values this income stream at a minimum of $200 million.
The musician's fortune also includes earnings from his worldwide tours. His most recent major tour, Got Back, featured 79 shows between 2022 and 2025. McCartney's assets also include properties in several countries and an art collection featuring works by René Magritte and Pablo Picasso.
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