Paul McCartney ranks third among musicians in Forbes’ November 9 wealth assessment, with an estimated net worth of at least US$1.4 billion. Jay-Z leads at $2.8 billion, followed by Taylor Swift at $2 billion.
Music publishing accounts for a substantial part of that total. The assessment puts a minimum $250 million value on MPL, McCartney’s publishing business, whose holdings extend well beyond his own writing. Buddy Holly’s songs, Broadway scores and Christmas standards all contribute to a catalog that earns money through other people’s performances and recordings.
Those rights give a publisher several ways to do business. A new recording of an older song, a television placement or licensed printed lyrics can each involve the publishing company. MPL handles licensing across those uses. The underlying asset is the composition itself, including its words and melody; permission to use a particular recording involves a separate set of rights. That distinction helps explain why owning songs can generate income across many versions of the same material.
Control of McCartney’s own compositions also required a legal fight. In June 2017, he reached a confidential settlement with Sony/ATV after seeking confirmation that he could reclaim US copyright interests. Reuters reported that the case concerned more than 260 copyrights, including “Yesterday” and “Hey Jude,” as well as some solo material. The settlement ended that lawsuit, but its terms were not made public.
The billionaire description had appeared before. As The Associated Press reported in May 2024, The Sunday Times Rich List put the combined wealth of McCartney and his wife, Nancy Shevell, at £1 billion. That household figure is distinct from the new assessment of McCartney’s own fortune.
His Beatles interests also include a 25% stake in Apple Corps. Forbes estimates that the company brings in more than $50 million annually from streaming, vinyl sales and merchandise. That is company revenue shared among its owners. Touring earnings, property and an art collection also contribute to McCartney’s overall valuation.
His share of the Beatles songwriting copyrights is valued separately at at least $200 million. The report estimates that those rights alone bring McCartney at least $10 million a year.
