Paul McCartney becomes a billionaire and becomes the third richest musician in the world

Paul McCartney has joined the pantheon of billionaires as Forbes estimated his net worth at around $1.4 billion.

The publication gave Sir Paul that designation with the launch of its newsletter “The Billie,” citing his catalog, legal maneuverings, tours and art collection as the bulk of his fortune. With $1.4 billion in income, he is the third richest musician in the world behind Taylor Swift with $2 billion and Jay-Z with $2.8 billion.

According to Forbes, the bulk of McCartney’s fortune comes from MLP Communications, his publishing company that he launched in 1969 and which manages his own catalog as well as the copyrights of other artists. The publication notes that McCartney’s acquisition of catalogs of artists like Buddy Holly, as well as Broadway musical scores and Christmas standards, contributes significantly to his wealth, worth nearly a quarter of a billion dollars.

Elsewhere, as one-quarter of the Beatles, McCartney receives 25 percent of the revenue from the Beatles’ holding company Apple Corps, which generates $50 million a year from streaming, vinyl sales and merchandise. Forbes estimates the income stream is worth more than $150 million to each member or their estate. McCartney also earns $10 million a year based on his share of royalties to Beatles songs, which he has fought legally for over the past two decades. It’s worth at least $200 million.

His total earnings include world tours, most recently with “Got Back,” which had 79 exhibitions from 2022 to 2025, as well as real estate around the world and an art collection including paintings by Magritte and Picasso.

McCartney remains very active as a musician and recently released his 20th solo album “The Boys of Dungeon Lane” this past May. He is also the subject of the documentary “Man on the Run”, directed by Morgan Neville and detailing his life after leaving the Beatles and starting his band Wings.