Sir James Paul McCartney CH MBE is an English singer, songwriter, musician and record and film producer who gained worldwide fame as co-lead vocalist, co-songwriter and bassist for the Beatles.
One of the most successful composers and performers of all time, he is known for his melodic approach to bass-playing, his versatile and wide tenor vocal range and his musical eclecticism, exploring styles ranging from pre-rock 'n' roll pop to classical and electronica.
McCartney has written or co-written 32 songs that have topped the Billboard Hot 100, and, as of 2009, had sales of 25.5 million RIAA-certified units in the US.
His honours include two inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of the Beatles in 1988 and as a solo artist in 1999),
an Academy Award, 18 Grammy Awards, an appointment as a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1965 and a knighthood in 1997 for services to music.
As of 2020, he was one of the wealthiest musicians in the world, with an estimated fortune of £800 million.