Paul McCartney has joined the world's billionaires, according to a new Forbes analysis released November 9, 2026. The 84-year-old former Beatle has a net worth of $1.4 billion, making him the world's third-richest musician behind Jay-Z at $2.8 billion and Taylor Swift at $2 billion.
Forbes attributed McCartney's wealth to his musical catalog, legal maneuvers, tours and art collection. The bulk of his fortune derives from MPL Communications, the publishing company he founded in 1969 that manages his own catalog and those of other artists including Buddy Holly, as well as Broadway musicals and classical Christmas songs.
As one of The Beatles' four members, McCartney receives 25 percent of the band's revenue from streaming, vinyl sales and merchandise through Apple Corps, the band's holding company. He also earns royalties from his songwriting and compositions.
MPL Communications alone is valued at approximately a quarter of a billion dollars. McCartney reportedly pulls in tens of millions of dollars annually in revenue, though he has declined to comment on Forbes' estimates.
The billionaire status caps a remarkable financial trajectory for McCartney, whose career has spanned more than six decades since The Beatles' formation in the early 1960s. His wealth accumulation reflects both the enduring commercial success of The Beatles' catalog and his shrewd business decisions in acquiring and managing music publishing rights.