Sir Paul McCartney has become the first UK musician to attain billionaire status, as revealed by the 2024 Sunday Times Rich List. The 81-year-old former Beatles member's wealth reached £1 billion, marking an increase of £50 million from the previous year. Contributing factors include the success of his 2023 Got Back Tour, the rise in value of his music catalog, and Beyoncé's cover of "Blackbird" on her album Cowboy Carter. The Beatles' final song, "Now And Then," released in 2023, also hit number one on the UK charts.
Other notable entrants in the list include Harry Potter author JK Rowling, with an estimated wealth of £945 million, and Sir Elton John, whose fortune stands at approximately £470 million. Rowling has donated £17.9 million to causes related to children and women over the past year, while Sir Elton John contributed £26.6 million to various charitable efforts, including HIV/AIDS research and humanitarian causes.