Paul McCartney has officially joined the elite club of billionaire musicians, becoming the first British artist to achieve a net worth of 1 billion pounds ($1.27 billion). This milestone was revealed in the latest figures released by the annual Sunday Times Rich List.
The 81-year-old former member of the iconic band, The Beatles, saw a significant increase in his wealth over the past year, with a growth of 50 million pounds attributed to various sources. McCartney's successful 2023 Got Back tour, the escalating value of his extensive back catalogue, and Beyonce's cover of The Beatles' classic 'Blackbird' on her album 'Cowboy Carter' all contributed to this financial boost.
In addition to these achievements, a new Beatles song titled 'Now and Then' was released in November, captivating audiences worldwide and topping music charts in multiple countries. The track, which featured contributions from surviving Beatles McCartney and Ringo Starr, was based on a demo recorded by the late John Lennon in 1977, with added guitar work by the late George Harrison.
The Sunday Times estimated that 50 million pounds of McCartney's wealth is attributed to his wife, Nancy Shevell, who is the daughter of the late U.S. trucking magnate Mike Shevell.
McCartney's impressive financial standing earned him the 165th spot on the prestigious list of the U.K.'s 350 wealthiest individuals. Topping the list were Gopi Hinduja and his family, with an estimated net worth of 37 billion pounds, derived from their ownership of the Hinduja Group, a prominent conglomerate in banking, media, and entertainment.
Notable entertainment figures featured on the list included 'Harry Potter' author J.K. Rowling, with an estimated fortune of 945 million pounds, and music legend Elton John, whose wealth was valued at 470 million pounds.
Further down the rankings, King Charles III secured the 258th position with an estimated wealth of 610 million pounds. The king's riches encompass substantial private estates such as Sandringham in England and Balmoral in Scotland, excluding assets held in trust for the nation, such as the Crown Jewels.
