The year 2022 marked a great year for musicians, as the global decline in Covid allowed musicians to get back on tour and perform concerts, reviving the industry.

A number of legendary and contemporary musicians from England last year brought back their tours and raked in the pounds, including Sir Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Queen, Harry Styles, Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa, and Sir Elton John.

McCartney, of the Beatles fame, made £45 million in 2022, thanks to the Got Back tour and Glastonbury Festival appearances. The ticket sales added to McCartney's wealth to a total of £865 million. Making him the richest British musician in history.

The only musician who beat the 80-year-old frontman in money earned last year is Gordon Sumner, otherwise known by his stage name Sting, who made £100 million in 2022.

According to Express, Wednesday, February 1, 2023, Sting, the former frontman of The Police earned big money thanks to the sale of his music catalogue to Universal Music.

Music catalogue sales are now an increasingly popular way for musicians to make a lot of money. Previously, Justin Bieber sold his music catalogue for US$ 200 million and Bruce Springsteen sold his body of work for US$ 550 million.

Here are the 10 British musicians who have made the most money in 2022, of which four have been knighted.

1. Sting – £100 million

2. Sir Paul McCartney – 45 million pounds

3. Ed Sheeran – £40 million

4. Harry Styles – £25 million

5. Dua Lipa – £24 million

6. Sir Elton John – 20 million pounds

7. Sir Mick Jagger – 8 million pounds

8. Keith Richards – 8 million pounds

9. Sir Brian May – 8 million pounds

10. Roger Taylor – £8 million

The 20 richest musicians in the UK, based on their net worth as of 2022, are as follows:

1. Sir Paul McCartney – £865 million 

2. U2 – £625 million

3. Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber – £495 million

4. Sir Elton John – 395 million

5. Sting – £320 million

6. Sir Mick Jagger – £318 million

7. Keith Richards – £303 million

8. The George Harrison Estate – £295 million

9. Sir Ringo Starr – £285 million

10. Ed Sheeran – £260 million

11. Calvin Harris – £220 million

12. Sir Brian May – £218 million

13. Sir Rod Stewart – £215 million

14. Roger Waters – £210 million

15. Michael Flatley – £206 million

16. Roger Taylor – £198 million

17. Eric Clapton – £195 million

18. Robbie Williams – £195 million

19. Sir Tom Jones – £180 million

20. The Charlie Watts estate – £175 million.