Paul McCartney talks about how “Yesterday” came to him in a dream
Sir Paul celebrates his 80th birthday today, one week before the music legend appears on the pyramid stage at Glastonbury Festival. The former Beatles, born in 1942, were honored by Mecca Bingo Notte Ash near where they grew up in Liverpool, which changed its tag from ‘Mecca’ to ‘Mecca’. Coinciding with his birthday, the singer-songwriter has also reportedly been made a nobility by the Queen after she knighted him for the first time in 25 years.
As a founding member of the Beatles, Sir Paul is one of the most influential and one of the most successful people in music history, with the Beatles selling over 1.6 billion records.
The multi-instrumentalist published 180 songs as part of his legendary songwriting partnership with John Lennon and went on to win 18 Grammy Awards.
His total net worth is estimated at $1.2 billion (£968 million), according to Celebrity Net Worth.
The star still earns up to £70 million a year, including from music revenue, which amounts to tens of millions of pounds alone.
In addition to his own songs, the former Beatles also make money owning the copyrights to artists such as Carl Perkins and Buddy Holly.
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Paul McCartney’s Wealth: The Ex-Beatles’ Huge Wealth Explained From Gigs To Copyright (Image: Getty)
Paul McCartney: He is 80 years old today (Image: Getty)
With the Beatles, Sir Paul directed 13 studio albums and achieved commercial success with songs such as “Hey Jude” and “Let it Be”.
After leaving the group in 1970, he formed the band Wings with his wife Linda, who played on keyboards. He became a widower after her death from cancer.
Sir Paul went on to release an additional 20 solo albums, and in 2017 was able to regain control of the rights to the Beatles’ catalog in a private settlement with Sony ATV.
Despite his immense wealth, the musician claimed that he likes to be generous when it comes to helping those in need.
Speaking to The New York Times Magazine in 2020, he said: “One of the great things now about money is what you can do with it.
Paul McCartney: With John Lennon (Image: Getty)
“Family and friends, if they have any medical problem, I can just say, ‘I will help.
“The most beautiful thing about having money is that you can help people with it.”
In addition to helping those close to him, Sir Paul has donated huge sums to charities over the years.
Organizations he has supported include PETA, The Botanical Society, Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, The One Voice Movement, and Nordorff-Robbins Music Therapy.
Despite his generosity, the former Beatles claimed he also had a frugal streak, which he credits with growing up in working-class Liverpool.
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The Beatles: One of the greatest bands of all time (Image: Getty)
When asked about his approach to money these days, he said: “Obviously it has changed.
“What’s left is the central core. When I was a kid in Liverpool, I would listen to people’s conversations.
“I remember two women talking about money: ‘Ah, my husband and I, we always argue about money.'”
And I remember very consciously thinking, ‘Okay, I’ll solve that; I will try to get the money.
McCartney: With the Beatles (Image: Getty)
This put me on a ‘let’s not have too many problems with money’ path.
In addition to helping others, Sir Paul spent his money on expensive cars, homes, and tools.
The musician owns real estate worth millions of pounds around the world, including a townhouse in New York, a Los Angeles mansion and properties in East Sussex and Scotland.
He is known to be a fan of Aston Martins, but he also owns other classic cars such as the Austin Healey 3000.
