Bono Now The Richest Rock Star On Earth, Thanks To Facebook

Bono is now the richest rocker on the planet, according to NME. Obviously, the U2 frontman was already pretty well off — so what tipped his bank into absurd levels of wealth? Bono owns 2.3% of the shares in Facebook through his investment group, Elevation Partners, which paid $90 million for shares in 2009. Now that the social networking site/time waster has gone public today (May 18), all its early investors will be seeing a flood of cash, and Bono’s share could be worth over $1.5 billion.

For comparison’s sake, Paul McCartney, the previous title-holder of the world’s richest rocker, has a fortune estimated to be around $1.05 billion. The lesson to be learned: associating yourself with Facebook is now more rewarding than being a former Beatle. These are the sad times we’re living in.

Bono, however, is either remaining humble or refuses to believe he could hold such a title. TMZ caught up to the artist while he was in D.C. this morning, and asked him how it feels to be the world’s richest rocker. “I don’t think it’s true,” he replies before taking off.

Other tidbits from NME’s article: U2 is prepping their follow-up to 2009’s No Line On The Horizon, and they’re reportedly working with One Direction‘s songwriters, will.i.am, Danger Mouse and RedOne. What interesting and not at all tired collaborations!

Regardless, today might be a good day to hit up Bono and ask him for, well, pretty much anything.