April 30, 2001. Copyright 2001. Graphic News. All rights reserved.

ÒWrinkly rockersÓ top BritainÕs pop rich list

LONDON, April 30, Graphic News: Former Beatle Paul McCartneyÕs fortune has rocketed to US$1.02bn (£713m), making the rocker -- who once sang ÒI don't care too much for moneyÓ -- British pop musicÕs first dollar billionaire.

With Beatlemania showing no signs of fading 30 years after they split up, McCartney is the big entertainment winner in the latest Sunday Times list of Britain's richest people.

McCartney has seen his bank balance swell by $234m (£163m) in the past year to cement his reputation as BritainÕs richest musician. 

He also inherited $198m (£138m) after his wife Linda died of breast cancer in 1998.

Wealth expert Dr Philip Beresford, who compiled the list said: ÒIt shows the BeatlesÕ popularity grows as they get more wrinkly. Sir Paul draws an enormous amount of his wealth from his huge back catalogue of hits. And he can still make best-selling albums almost 40 years after The Beatles were formed.Ó

The 58-year-old multimillionaire musicianÕs increased wealth now puts him 36th in the overall list of BritainÕs richest 1,000 people.

The richest female musician -- and the sixth richest musician overall -- is Madonna, who qualifies for the first time this year after her marriage in December to Guy Ritchie, the British director. The list places their combined fortune at $258.5m (£180m), with the majority of the wealth believed to come from the pop queen.

ÒWrinkly rockersÓ -- with an average age of 53 -- dwarfed the bank balance of the top sports star -- boxer Prince NaseemÕs fortune was put at just $43m (£30m).

Former England skipper Alan Shearer, worth $24.4m (£17m), comes second in the youthful rich stakes, followed by David Beckham -- worth $17m (£12m). 
/ENDS
Sources: Reuters