Paul McCartney is an English singer, songwriter, and musician born on June 18, 1942. He became incredibly popular worldwide as a member of the Beatles where he played bass guitar and shared songwriting and lead vocal duties with John Lennon. McCartney is known for his catchy bass lines versatile voice and diverse music style which spans from early pop to classical ballads and electronica. His collaboration with Lennon is considered one of the most successful in modern music history.
McCartney grew up in Liverpool teaching himself piano guitar and songwriting. Influenced by his father’s jazz background and artists like Little Richard and Buddy Holly he joined Lennon’s group the Quarrymen in 1957 which later evolved into the Beatles. Often called “the cute Beatle” McCartney was pivotal in introducing experimental elements into the Beatles’ music particularly notable in albums like Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Beyond his time with the Beatles, Paul McCartney launched a successful solo career starting with his 1970 album “McCartney” and later formed the band Wings with his wife Linda and Denny Laine. Wings produced several chart-topping hits including “My Love” and “Band on the Run.” McCartney’s solo hits include “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” “Ebony and Ivory” (with Stevie Wonder) and “Say Say Say” (with Michael Jackson).
Apart from music, McCartney is passionate about various humanitarian causes including animal rights poverty alleviation, and music education. He has received numerous accolades including multiple Grammy Awards inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame both as a Beatle and a solo artist and a knighthood for his contributions to music.
As of 2024, Paul McCartney remains one of the wealthiest musicians globally with an estimated fortune of £1.2 billion. His influence on music and culture continues to resonate worldwide.
| Full Name | James Paul McCartney |
| Date of Birth | June 18, 1942 |
| Place of Birth | Liverpool, England |
| Occupation | Musician, Singer-songwriter |
| Height | 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm) |
| Spouse | Linda McCartney (1969-1998, her death) Heather Mills (2002-2008, divorced) Nancy Shevell (2011-present) |
| Children | Mary McCartney, Stella McCartney, James McCartney, Heather McCartney, Beatrice McCartney |
| Net Worth | $1.2 billion |
Paul McCartney’s Early Life and Education
Paul McCartney was born on June 18, 1942, at Walton Hospital in Liverpool. His mother Mary Patricia worked as a nurse and both his parents were of Irish descent. He has a younger brother named Peter Michael and a stepsister named Ruth from his father’s second marriage.
Despite their Irish background Paul and his brother were baptized in their mother’s Catholic faith even though their father Jim was originally Protestant but later became agnostic. Religion wasn’t a big focus in their home.
Paul’s biographer Peter Ames Carlin notes that McCartney’s parents were from the working class but had experienced some upward social mobility over their lives. Before World War II Jim worked as a salesman and later as a lathe turner at a defense engineering company during the war. The family moved to different housing in Knowsley and Speke as they grew.
Paul McCartney attended Stockton Wood Road Primary School and later Joseph Williams Junior School. In 1953, he passed an exam allowing him to attend the Liverpool Institute a grammar school.
The McCartney family’s finances were helped by Mary’s job as a midwife. Her work enabled them to move to 20 Forthlin Road in Allerton where they lived until 1964. Paul fondly remembers his mother riding her bicycle through snowy streets in the early morning to care for her patients.
Tragically when Paul was 14 his mother died due to complications from surgery for breast cancer. This loss created a bond between Paul and John Lennon whose mother had also passed away.
Paul’s father Jim was a musician who played trumpet and piano. He encouraged his sons to pursue music and advised Paul to take piano lessons though Paul preferred learning by ear. At 14 Paul received a trumpet as a birthday gift but traded it for an acoustic guitar when he became interested in rock and roll.
Inspired by artists like Little Richard, Paul McCartney wrote his first song “I Lost My Little Girl” on his guitar. His passion for music continued to grow leading him to perform publicly and eventually form the iconic band The Beatles.
Career
At 15 years old on July 6, 1957, Paul McCartney met John Lennon and his band the Quarrymen at a church event in Woolton. The Quarrymen played a mix of rock and skiffle music. Soon they asked McCartney to join as their rhythm guitarist and he formed a close bond with Lennon. Harrison joined as lead guitarist in 1958 and Stuart Sutcliffe Lennon’s friend from art school joined on bass in 1960. By May 1960 they had experimented with different band names before settling on the Beatles in August 1960. They recruited drummer Pete Best just before a residency in Hamburg.
In 1961, Sutcliffe left and McCartney took over as the bass player. There’s debate about whether he took the role reluctantly or sought it out. While in Hamburg they professionally recorded for the first time under the name Beat Brothers backing singer Tony Sheridan on “My Bonnie”. This caught the attention of Brian Epstein who became their manager in January 1962.
Ringo Starr replaced Best in August and their first hit “Love Me Do” came in October. They became hugely popular in the UK by 1963 and the US in 1964 sparking “Beatlemania”. Paul McCartney co-wrote many early hits with Lennon including “I Saw Her Standing There” “She Loves You” “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “Can’t Buy Me Love”.
In August 1965, the Beatles released McCartney’s “Yesterday” featuring a string quartet. It marked their first use of classical music elements and was their first single featuring only one band member. “Yesterday” became one of the most covered songs in history. During the Rubber Soul album sessions later that year, McCartney began to take a more dominant role musically in the band. The album was praised for its musical and lyrical depth and is considered one of the Beatles’ best works.
Their 1966 album Revolver showcased sophisticated lyrics and studio experimentation expanding into new musical genres like psychedelic rock. It included McCartney’s “Eleanor Rigby” featuring a string octet and hailed as a genre-defying song. The Beatles stopped performing live concerts after their 1966 US tour focusing solely on studio recordings and innovative projects like McCartney’s film score for The Family Way.
With Epstein’s death in 1967, Paul McCartney stepped up as a leader steering the Beatles towards ambitious projects like Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band a pioneering concept album. McCartney sought to shed their “mop-top” image aiming for more artistic depth. The Beatles’ creative tensions became evident during this period culminating in McCartney pushing for new projects while others resisted.
In 1969, tensions among the band members escalated leading to McCartney’s public announcement of his departure from the Beatles in April 1970. Legal dissolution followed marking the end of an era. McCartney feeling depressed during this time found solace and inspiration in his wife Linda leading to his solo career’s beginnings with the release of his album “McCartney” in 1970.
Paul McCartney continued to thrive in the 1970s with hits like “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” and forming the band Wings with Linda. Their 1973 album Band on the Run was a major success followed by several other hit albums and tours. McCartney’s musical journey extended into collaborations with Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson in the 1980s and he remained a prolific artist well into subsequent decades leaving an indelible mark on music history.
Paul McCartney began exploring orchestral music in 1991 when he was asked by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society to create a piece for their 150th anniversary. Teaming up with composer Carl Davis they crafted the Liverpool Oratorio featuring opera stars like Kiri Te Kanawa and Sally Burgess.
Initial reviews were critical with The Guardian calling the music hesitant and lacking recurring themes. Despite this McCartney defended the work highlighting its faster tempos and noting that many great pieces faced initial criticism. The Liverpool Oratorio eventually topped the UK classical chart.
During the 1990s, McCartney’s musical ventures diversified. He collaborated with Youth of Killing Joke under the alias “the Fireman” releasing electronica albums like Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest. His solo rock album Off the Ground and subsequent New World Tour marked a prolific period culminating in the live album Paul Is Live.
In 1994, Paul McCartney took a hiatus from his solo career to contribute to Apple’s Beatles Anthology project. He also hosted a radio series titled Oobu Joobu and received an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal College of Music. The late 90s saw him release the rock album Flaming Pie and the classical Standing Stone which both achieved chart success.
McCartney’s 2000s were equally eventful. He responded to the September 11 attacks with the Concert for New York City and released the album Driving Rain which featured the anthem “Freedom.” His subsequent tours including the Driving World Tour with a new band were highly successful earning him the title of top tour by Billboard in 2002.
In 2002, Paul McCartney married Heather Mills and continued his philanthropic efforts performing at events like the Concert for George and the Super Bowl pre-game show. He was honored by the English College of Arms with a personal coat of arms reflecting his Liverpool roots and musical career.
Paul McCartney’s influence continued into the mid-2000s with performances at Live 8 and the release of albums like Chaos and Creation in the Backyard and Memory Almost Full. He also ventured into classical music again with Ecce Cor Meum and continued his Fireman collaboration with Electric Arguments.
In recent years, McCartney’s career has spanned collaborations with artists like Kanye West and Rihanna performances at major events such as the Diamond Jubilee Concert and the London Olympics, and the release of albums like New and McCartney III. He remains an iconic figure in music recognized with awards like the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and continues to innovate and inspire across genres.
Net Worth
Paul McCartney has an estimated net worth of $1.2 Billion, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The main source of Paul McCartney’s net worth comes from his career as a musician, songwriter, and performer. His earnings primarily come from selling records, performing concerts, and owning rights to his music, which includes royalties from songs he wrote or co-wrote as a member of The Beatles and in his solo career.
Personal life
Since 1989, Paul McCartney has consistently been the wealthiest musician in the UK amassing an estimated fortune of £730 million in 2015. His wealth comes from various ventures including Apple Corps and MPL Communications which manage his business interests. He also owns a vast music publishing catalog with over 25000 copyrights including rights to popular musicals like Guys and Dolls and Grease. McCartney earned £40 million in 2003 and £48.5 million by 2005 making him one of the highest-earning figures in UK media at the time. His 2012 On the Run Tour grossed £37 million.
McCartney’s career started with the Beatles in 1962 when they signed with Parlophone Records in the UK and Capitol Records in the US. They later formed their label Apple Records in 1968 releasing music under EMI. After the Beatles disbanded McCartney continued under EMI until 2006 then signed with Columbia Records in the US in 1979 securing a lucrative deal. Despite setbacks including a less successful stint with CBS McCartney returned to Capitol Records and later joined Hear Music in 2007.
In 1963, Paul McCartney and Lennon established Northern Songs to publish their music. After various ownership changes including a failed attempt to repurchase it in 1981 the catalog eventually ended up with Michael Jackson who later merged it with Sony to form Sony/ATV Music Publishing. McCartney still receives royalties from his compositions.
McCartney’s personal life included periods of drug use starting with Preludin in the Beatles’ early days and later cannabis which influenced some of his music. He experimented briefly with cocaine and LSD but ultimately distanced himself from drugs in later years advocating for cannabis decriminalization.
Paul McCartney’s romantic life has been quite eventful. His first serious girlfriend in Liverpool was Dorothy “Dot Rhone” whom he met at the Casbah club in 1959. According to Spitz, Rhone felt that McCartney often wanted to control things even influencing her style and appearance. They were in a relationship for about two and a half years and were planning to marry but unfortunately, Rhone had a miscarriage and McCartney decided to end their engagement.
Next Paul McCartney met actress Jane Asher in 1963 at a Beatles performance. They lived together for over two years at Asher’s parents’ home before moving to McCartney’s place. Their relationship inspired several of McCartney’s songs. However, they broke off their engagement when Asher found out about McCartney’s involvement with Francie Schwartz an American screenwriter.
Linda Eastman a music enthusiast and photographer met McCartney in 1967 at a concert in London. They clicked instantly despite McCartney’s initial interest in her friend. They married in 1969 and had a close fun-loving relationship until Linda’s passing in 1998 from breast cancer. They had four children together.
After Linda’s death, Paul McCartney married Heather Mills in 2002 but they divorced in 2008. In 2011 he married Nancy Shevell whom he had known for many years prior.
Throughout his life, McCartney’s relationships have been scrutinized by the media reflecting changes in public opinion and McCartney’s journey.
The Beatles
Paul McCartney and John Lennon had a complicated relationship after The Beatles broke up. They briefly got close again in early 1974 even playing music together once. However, over time they grew apart. McCartney would often call Lennon but he was unsure how Lennon would react. During one call Lennon told McCartney “You’re all pizza and fairytales!” They tried to avoid talking only about business discussing cats babies or baking bread instead.
On April 24, 1976, McCartney and Lennon were hanging out at Lennon’s place watching Saturday Night Live when the show’s producer offered $3000 for The Beatles to reunite on air. They seriously thought about going but decided it was too late. This turned out to be their last time together. This event was dramatized in the TV movie Two of Us in 2000.
Paul McCartney’s final phone call to Lennon was just before Lennon released “Double Fantasy” with Yoko Ono. He remembered it fondly saying “It’s consoling for me because I wish we had resolved our differences. But luckily our last conversation was positive without any arguments.”
When Lennon was tragically murdered on December 9, 1980, McCartney was deeply affected. He initially said to reporters that it was “a drag” but later clarified that he meant it with sadness. He recalled his last phone call with Lennon and how Yoko Ono had told him that Lennon had fond feelings for him.
Reflecting on their relationship McCartney admitted he could have been more open and less distant, especially knowing what would happen. He mourned Lennon’s death with his family and later described Lennon as his greatest hero.
After George Harrison’s passing in 2001, Paul McCartney remembered him as brave and funny cherishing the times they had together. He paid tribute to Harrison at the Concert for George by playing “Something” on a ukulele.
Despite occasional disagreements during their time in The Beatles McCartney and Ringo Starr continued to collaborate after the band broke up. They worked on each other’s solo albums and performed together at various events maintaining a strong bond over the years.
Overall Paul McCartney’s relationship with Lennon Harrison and Starr was marked by both challenges and deep affection influencing his life and music profoundly.
