Paul McCartney still Britain’s richest musician

Former Beatles’ member Paul McCartney is still by far Britain’s richest musician, leaving Elton John, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards looking relatively poor by comparison, an annual survey published in the latest issue of Business Age magazine shows.

McCartney, 58, who derives much of his fortune from royalties paid from the Beatles’ universally popular songs, is estimated to be worth 500 million pounds (850 million euros, 700 million dollars), the magazine said. That stash is likely to swell even further when a Beatles’ album is released soon and the launch of a Beatles web site.

Elton John, on the other hand, has to get by with a mere 156 million pounds. The 53-year-old is known, however, for an extravagant lifestyle and flashy outfits and is currently suing his former manager and accountant over what he claims was insufficient care in looking after his Financial business.

Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger comes third on the list with a 145-million-pound fortune, followed by the group’s guitarist, Keith Richards, who has 125 million pounds. In fifth place are two senior citizens of pop, Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck, each of whom have 100 million pounds.

Then comes David Bowie, who saw his nest egg shrink after some ill-fated investments in the beleaguered ‘new economy’ to 96.5 million pounds. Sting, Phil Collins, and other ex-Beatles George Harrison and Ringo Starr also figure on the list of 40 musicians, which is largely dominated by groups that have been on music store shelves for decades: Dire Straits, Led Zepplin, Pink Floyd. Newcomers such as Spice Girl Victoria Beckham are much lower. She’s ranked 31 with 24.6 million pounds, while Robbie Williams, 26, brings up the rear in 40th position with 10.8 million pounds.

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