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Pretty Penny Lane: McCartney a billionaire, but only worth half as much as Jay-Z

Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News on

Published in Entertainment News

NEW YORK — Paul McCartney is finally a billionaire.

But according to Forbes, the former Beatle’s $1.4 billion nest egg makes him worth half as much as Jay-Z.

A big chunk of the 84-year-old “Penny Lane” singer’s wealth reportedly stems from his MLP Communications publishing company that began in 1969. It included his own song catalog as well as rights to Buddy Holly tunes, Broadway scores and Christmas songs.

Sir Paul also collects a quarter of all income from the Beatles’ Apple Corps holding company. Forbes estimates that haul accounts for $50 million annually. Fab Four songwriting copyrights add to his massive worth as well.

Forbes ranks McCartney as music’s third richest performer. Taylor Swift occupies the number two spot with a value of about $2 billion.

Paul McCartney appeared dismissive in 1964 when a BBC reporter asked what he thought about estimates that the Beatles would be millionaires after the band’s first visit to the U.S.

 

“Naw, you’re kidding,” he replied.

McCartney wrote in a 2017 Forbes essay that despite the Beatles’ extraordinary success, their early record deal was tantamount to a “slave contract” that paid practically nothing.

“No matter how successful we made the company, we didn’t get a raise,” he claimed.

The Beatles were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. McCartney was anointed as a solo performer in 1999.

He and Beatles drummer Ringo Starr are expected to take the stage with guitarist Joe Walsh in Las Vegas on Jan. 29 to perform at a benefit for military veterans.


©2026 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

 

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