Sir Paul tops rich list

Sir Paul: An estimated fortune of £713m

Sir Paul McCartney is the richest musician in Britain, with a personal fortune of £713m, according to the Sunday Times rich list.

The ex-Beatle was at the top of the rich list of musicians last year and has cemented his position over the past 12 months.

Madonna and Guy Ritchie make their debut on the rich list

The newspaper says his fortune has grown from £550m in 2000 to £713m this year, due in part to inheriting money after the death of his wife Linda McCartney and huge world-wide sales of a Beatles greatest hits album.

Each year the newspaper publishes a league table of the nation's wealthiest people.

Overall list

Sir Paul is 36th in the overall list of Britain's richest 1,000 people, up five places on last year.

Lord Lloyd-Webber is second in the list of musicians, with a fortune of £420m.

Music tycoons

1. Sir Paul McCartney £713m

2. Andrew Lloyd Webber £420m

3. Sir Cameron Mackintosh £400m

4. Robert Stigwood £200m

5. Chris Wight (Chrysalis music group) £190m

6. Madonna and Guy Ritchie £180m

7. Mick Jagger £150m

7. Sir Elton John £150m

7. Jamie Palumbo (Ministry of Sound) £150m

10. Keith Richards £130m

Pop icon Madonna is a new entry in the chart, qualifying after her marriage to British director Guy Ritchie last year.

Their combined fortune of £180m puts them sixth in the music list, one ahead of Sir Elton John.

Sir Elton's wealth is estimated at £150m, down £10m on 2000. The singer also faces a reported £8m legal bill after losing a High Court case last week.

The top five is dominated by theatrical producers - Sir Cameron Mackintosh and Robert Stigwood are at number three and four in the chart respectively.

Sir Elton: Facing a reported £8m legal bill

Simon Fuller, the former manager of the Spice girls, is a new entry in the chart, at number 41 in the list of musicians.

His fortune is put at £40m, more than any of the Spice Girls. individually. The Observer newspaper calculated last year that the Spice Girls were worth about £20m each.

He now runs his own TV company, 19TV, and launched the pop band S Club 7.

Trevor Nunn, who recently announced his intention to leave the Royal National Theatre, is also at number 41 in the list, with a fortune of £40m, accrued mainly through his work in West End musicals.