Music stars are cultural icons that soundtrack our lives. Many popular musicians have seen major success over the decades, with a lucky few finding millions of fans and becoming millionaires in the process. A really small number, however, have joined the ranks of the super-wealthy with fortunes in the hundreds of millions. If you’re not gifted with any of their vocals, fret not because you can still be wealthy because of technologies like that Currency Strength Meter.

3. Madonna

Madonna was the pop princess that dominated the charts in the 80s and 90s with hits like ‘Into The Groove’ and ‘Justify My Love’ and then made a successful comeback in the 00s with the imaginatively titled ‘Music’, with Guinness World Records calling her the bestselling female recording artist of all time.

The singer has a record label, fashion lines, has published children’s books, been behind movie productions, health clubs and lucrative endorsement deals, and has notched up an impressive estimated $590 million (£450 million), with no sign that she is shifting away from the limelight.

2. Bono

Bono is somewhat of a love/hate figure amongst music fans, with his public persona and trademark sunglasses not always popular with the public. However, few doubt that he is amongst the biggest names in music thanks to his critical and commercial success with his band U2.

U2 have made millions on huge music tours around the world, but Bono has also invested his money wisely over the last few decades. He was an early investor in Facebook, a capital investment which has generated a significant portion of his wealth today, as well as storage company Dropbox. He also owns a significant property portfolio, co-owns the Clarence Hotel in Dublin and serves on the board of the private equity firm Elevation Partners – named after the U2 hit from 2000, and is a renowned low-rolling gambler, so probably won’t be investing in online real money casinos, but he is worth and estimated $700 million (£530 million)

1. Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney is still best known as the co-songwriter for most of The Beatles hits, and he has now been collecting royalties on those tunes for half a century! He has also had commercial success with the band Wings and as a solo artist, but it is his Beatles music and associated brands that have made up the majority of his wealth, with writing credits for Grease and Annie adding to his riches – and for any guitarists out there it was him that made famous the Epiphone Casino guitar, or “jeux casino” as the French would say.

He has won 18 Grammys and knighthood throughout his musical career, and has built up a property portfolio worth an estimated $100 million., with his total wealth now believed to be in the region of $1.2 billion (£920 million).