Beatles’ Paul McCartney is UK’s first billionaire musician, thanks to Beyoncé, scrapping of ‘non-dom’ tax

McCartney wealth is estimated at US$1.26 billion, partly due to government plans to scrap the ‘non-dom tax status’ where people do not pay tax on overseas earnings
His fortune was boosted by strong touring, a valuable back catalogue and Beyoncé covering the Beatles’ song ‘Blackbird’, the Sunday Times Rich List said

Music icon Paul McCartney has become the UK’s first billionaire musician, according to the Sunday Times Rich List published on Friday, despite the country recording its largest fall in the billionaire count in the guide’s 36-year history. The 81-year-old’s fortune was boosted by “strong touring, a valuable back catalogue and even a little help from Beyoncé”, who covered the Beatles’ song “Blackbird”, said the Rich List, considered the definitive guide of the UK’s wealthy. McCartney, whose net worth was estimated at £1.0 billion (US$1.26 billion), has bucked the trend, with the amount of billionaires in the UK falling from a peak of 177 in 2022 to 165 this year. This is partly due to plans by the government to scrap the “non-dom tax status” from next year, the system whereby people do not pay UK tax on their overseas earnings.
Non-dom” has been a political issue for many years, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Indian wife Akshata Murty claiming the status, meaning she was not required to pay tax on her shareholding in Infosys, the Bengaluru-based IT company co-founded by her father.

However, she said she would pay UK tax on that income after coming under political pressure.

That move has not hit the family’s fortune, with the couple seeing their shares grow in value by £108.8 million to nearly £590 million over the past year, giving the couple a net worth of £615 million, according to the list of 350 individuals and families.

Music icon Paul McCartney has become the UK’s first billionaire musician. Photo: AFP
Europe
Beatles’ Paul McCartney is UK’s first billionaire musician, thanks to Beyoncé, scrapping of ‘non-dom’ tax
McCartney wealth is estimated at US$1.26 billion, partly due to government plans to scrap the ‘non-dom tax status’ where people do not pay tax on overseas earnings
His fortune was boosted by strong touring, a valuable back catalogue and Beyoncé covering the Beatles’ song ‘Blackbird’, the Sunday Times Rich List said
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Agence France-Presse
Agence France-Presse

Published: 10:00pm, 17 May, 2024

Music icon Paul McCartney has become the UK’s first billionaire musician, according to the Sunday Times Rich List published on Friday, despite the country recording its largest fall in the billionaire count in the guide’s 36-year history. The 81-year-old’s fortune was boosted by “strong touring, a valuable back catalogue and even a little help from Beyoncé”, who covered the Beatles’ song “Blackbird”, said the Rich List, considered the definitive guide of the UK’s wealthy. McCartney, whose net worth was estimated at £1.0 billion (US$1.26 billion), has bucked the trend, with the amount of billionaires in the UK falling from a peak of 177 in 2022 to 165 this year. This is partly due to plans by the government to scrap the “non-dom tax status” from next year, the system whereby people do not pay UK tax on their overseas earnings.
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“Non-dom” has been a political issue for many years, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Indian wife Akshata Murty claiming the status, meaning she was not required to pay tax on her shareholding in Infosys, the Bengaluru-based IT company co-founded by her father.
Paul McCartney performs onstage during the 36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony in Cleveland in October 2021. Photo: TNS
Paul McCartney performs onstage during the 36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony in Cleveland in October 2021. Photo: TNS
However, she said she would pay UK tax on that income after coming under political pressure.

That move has not hit the family’s fortune, with the couple seeing their shares grow in value by £108.8 million to nearly £590 million over the past year, giving the couple a net worth of £615 million, according to the list of 350 individuals and families.
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King Charles III’s personal wealth was also estimated to have risen by £10 million to £610 million, thanks to a boost in the net worth of his properties. Those faring less well include chemicals tycoon Jim Ratcliffe, who bought a stake in Manchester United earlier this year, inventor James Dyson and Virgin entrepreneur Richard Branson, who all saw their multibillion pound fortunes decrease. The list is topped by Indian-born investor Gopi Hinduja and his family for a third successive year.