Forbes has placed Paul McCartney among the world’s billionaires, valuing his net worth at $1.4 bn (£1.04 bn). The former Beatle now sits third on the list of richest musicians, trailing Jay‑Z’s $2.8 bn (£2.01 bn) and Taylor Swift’s $2 bn (£1.49 bn).
McCartney’s fortune is largely built on his music catalogue, legal manoeuvres, touring and an extensive art collection. The 84‑year‑old earns most of his wealth through MPL Communications, the publishing company he founded in 1969, which manages his own catalogue and those of other artists.
The company’s acquisition of copyrights from artists such as Buddy Holly, Broadway scores and Christmas standards like “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” and “The Christmas Song” accounts for nearly a quarter of a billion dollars. Each time a high school performs “Grease” or a stream of “Blue Suede Shoes” occurs, McCartney receives royalties, Forbes reports.
As a former Beatle, he also receives 25 % of Apple Corps earnings, which generate about $50 m (£37.2 m) annually from streaming, vinyl sales and merchandise. He earns an additional $10 m (£7.4 m) per year from the band’s songwriting copyrights, a $200 m (£148.8 m) asset he secured through decades of legal battles in the US and UK.
Forbes also estimates revenue from his touring – 79 shows for the Got Back tour between 2022 and 2025 – and from real‑estate holdings worldwide and paintings by Magritte and Picasso.
McCartney remains an active performer, releasing his latest album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, in May and appearing as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live’s season finale. In July he performed “I Want to Hold Your Hand” for the first time in 60 years at Taylor Swift’s Madison Square Garden wedding to Travis Kelce.
This year he was also the focus of Man on the Run, a documentary by Morgan Neville chronicling his life after the Beatles.
Fans and industry observers will watch how McCartney balances his legacy with new ventures as he continues to command a significant share of the music industry’s revenue streams.
