Sir Paul McCartney now ranks as the world’s third-richest musician, according to Forbes. The two stars above him built their billions along very different paths. Who are they?
Forbes estimated the 84-year-old former Beatle’s fortune at at least $1.4bn in its assessment published on 9 November.
Sir Paul’s most substantial asset is MPL Communications, the music publishing business he founded back in 1969. Forbes valued it at at least $250 million, and apparently this figure is where most of the musician’s proceeds have been coming from. Its holdings include rights associated with Grease and It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.
Income from the Beatles, his songwriting royalties, and decades of touring have also contributed to his wealth. His assets extend to property in Britain and the Hamptons and an art collection featuring Picasso and Magritte.
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McCartney declined to comment on Forbes’s estimates. In the meantime, one question arises: who can rival the British rock icon in absolute terms?
1. Jay-Z: $2.8bn, with a sip of champagne
Jay-Z, the rapper behind The Blueprint and Empire State of Mind became hip-hop’s first billionaire in 2019. Forbes attributes much of his subsequent wealth growth to his drinks businesses.
In 2021, luxury group LVMH’s Moët Hennessy division bought half of Armand de Brignac champagne brand. Two years later, he sold a majority of his stake in D’Ussé cognac to Bacardi, according to Forbes.
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His assets also include entertainment company Roc Nation, his music catalogue, investments and an art collection featuring works by Jean-Michel Basquiat. Recordings helped establish his name; selling stakes in businesses helped multiply his wealth.
2. Taylor Swift: $2bn from songs and stadiums
October 2023 saw Taylor Swift‘s earnings skyrocket thanks to the Eras Tour, and she became a billionaire. She became the first musician to become a billionaire solely through her music and performances, according to Forbes.
Her wealth is derived from her music catalogue’s value, her property, and the money she has earned from touring and royalties. Additionally, in May of 2025, after a long period of releasing re-recorded versions of her earlier work, she reclaimed the master recordings of her first six albums.
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The importance of ownership extends far beyond the release of an album; even after its initial release, original recordings can continue to bring in money through licensing, sales, and streaming.
