The $300M gap comes down to one brutal business decision: Paul bought catalogs, the Stones sold theirs. McCartney controls 3,000 songs including Buddy Holly and Everly Brothers tracks—every stream, license, and sync deal flows to him. The Stones just cashed out their catalog for $200M in 2023, which felt massive until you realize they're now earning *for* someone else on future revenues. It's the difference between owning the factory versus working in it.

McCartney also negotiated himself into the upper echelon early. His songwriting splits with Lennon were intentionally structured to give him maximum publishing control post-Beatles, and he leveraged that position to acquire other catalogs when the market was soft. The Stones, by contrast, spent decades fighting managers, record labels, and their own egos—Keith Richards alone probably cost them hundreds of millions in legal fees, rehab, and lost years. Paul was boring and business-minded; Mick and Keith were rock stars, which is great for mythology but terrible for net worth.

Then there's the touring difference that looks counterintuitive. Yes, the Stones gross $100M+ per tour, but that's *gross*—after production costs, crew, venues, and logistics on a stadium scale, the net is maybe 20-30%. McCartney tours less frequently but operates more efficiently, and more importantly, his residual income from publishing and royalties keeps compounding while he sleeps. The Stones had to keep touring to maintain their wealth; McCartney's money makes money. One is a stock portfolio, the other is a job.