In its Nov. 9 assessment, Forbes placed the British singer-songwriter behind only Jay-Z, worth $2.8 billion, and Taylor Swift, with a fortune of $2 billion. McCartney’s wealth exceeds that of fellow music stars Bruce Springsteen, Beyoncé and Rihanna.
Much of his fortune comes from MPL Communications, the music publishing company he founded in 1969, shortly before the Beatles broke up.
The company allows McCartney to retain control over the publishing rights and master recordings of his solo music, enabling him to collect a larger share of royalties.
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British singer-songwriter Paul McCartney, 84. Photo from Instagram/marymccartney |
McCartney also began acquiring other artists’ music catalogs long before their commercial value surged, including songs by American rock pioneer Buddy Holly, Broadway musical compositions and Christmas favorites such as “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” and “Wonderful Christmastime.”
MPL, now valued at at least $250 million, owns thousands of songs and is estimated to generate tens of millions of dollars in annual revenue.
Its extensive catalog allows McCartney to earn royalties whenever songs such as “Blue Suede Shoes” are streamed or a school stages a production of the musical “Grease.”
Raised in a working-class family in Liverpool, England, McCartney has spoken candidly about the Beatles’ early financial ambitions.
In a 2021 interview with James Daunt, CEO of American bookstore chain Barnes & Noble, he recalled that earning money was a major motivation when the band first emerged from Liverpool. “When we first got out of Liverpool, it was money… we were kids without jobs, suddenly there was a job, and so we wanted to get paid, and the more money, the better,” he said.
More than six decades after the Beatles’ formation, McCartney continues to earn substantial income from the band’s music and merchandise.
He receives 25% of the approximately $50 million in annual revenue generated by Apple Corps, the Beatles’ holding company, through music streaming, vinyl records and merchandise sales.
His share of the band’s songwriting copyrights, which he spent more than two decades fighting to reclaim through legal proceedings in the U.S. and U.K., is estimated to be worth $200 million and brings in at least $10 million annually.
McCartney’s other assets include earnings from concert tours, properties in Britain and the Hamptons, and an art collection featuring works by Pablo Picasso and René Magritte, according to People.
Between 2022 and 2025, he performed 79 concerts as part of his Got Back tour, adding to his considerable touring income.
Despite his age, McCartney remains active in the entertainment industry.
In May 2026, he released his 20th solo studio album, “The Boys of Dungeon Lane,” and appeared as the musical guest on the season finale of “Saturday Night Live.”
He also performed the Beatles’ classic “I Want to Hold Your Hand” at Swift’s wedding to NFL player Travis Kelce in New York in July, The Guardian reported.
Discussing his relationship with wealth, McCartney said he saw no contradiction between financial success and personal fulfillment.
“I’ve never been one to think that there’s something dirty about accepting money. I think most people in the world do it, so there’s got to be something okay about it. And love and marriage and friendship — most people in the world do that too.”
“So I think the two can coexist,” he added. “I’m happy to enjoy both.”