Forbes has ranked Paul McCartney's net worth at approximately $1.4 billion, placing the former Beatle among the world's billionaires, according to a Variety report. Variety's account, written by Steven J. Horowitz, said Forbes made the designation with the launch of its newsletter, "The Billie."

The Guardian reported the same figure, $1.4bn (£1.04bn), citing a new analysis by Forbes. It said McCartney is the world's third-richest musician, behind Jay-Z at $2.8bn (£2.01bn) and Taylor Swift at $2bn (£1.49bn). The Guardian's account, by Adrian Horton, is available in its coverage of the ranking.

Billboard also reported that Forbes ranks McCartney as a billionaire and the world's third-richest musician. In its Billboard story, written by Hannah Dailey, the outlet said the former Beatle "made his fortune by investing in other artists' music."

The reports differ on what built the fortune. Variety said Forbes cited his catalog, legal maneuvers, tours and art collection as the bulk of it. Billboard described the wealth as coming from investing in other artists' music. Variety and Billboard therefore describe the source of the money differently, while the Variety and Guardian reports agree on the $1.4 billion figure.

All three reports attribute the valuation to Forbes. Each of the Variety and Guardian reports places McCartney behind Jay-Z and Taylor Swift only in the Guardian account, while Variety's report centers on the designation, the newsletter launch and the factors Forbes cited.

Sources: Variety: Paul McCartney Becomes a Billionaire, Making Him the World’s Third-Richest Musician; Billboard: Paul McCartney Is a Billionaire - and the World’s Third-Richest Musician - According to Forbes; The Guardian: Paul McCartney becomes a billionaire and world’s third richest musician.