Few 24 year-olds have attained the success McCartney had by 1964, when "The Beatles" became a worldwide phenomenon. Photographed here at JFK airport in New York, the English band was greeted by an unprecedented fan frenzy.
McCartney's friendship with fellow band member and music icon John Lennon continues to be a widely discussed topic in popular culture. The two grew apart in the years following the band's break-up, and McCartney's reaction to Lennon's death was viewed by some as superficial.
McCartney with first wife, Linda Eastman, and their children in 1976. Eastman's love for music led the pair to form a band together in 1971, and their love for each other led to a marriage that lasted almost 30 years until Eastman's tragic death from breast cancer in 1998.
The 1983 issue of Rolling Stone magazine covered McCartney's musical collaboration with the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. They remained friends following the recording of their duet, but a long-running feud over Jackson's purchase of the publishing rights to "The Beatles'" songs led to estrangement between the two.
McCartney joined forces with Madonna for an appearance at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards.
McCartney's personal life gained notoriety following his troubled marriage to former model, Heather Mills. The pair tied the knot in 2002 and divorced six years later with a settlement that cost McCartney a reported $50 million.
Staying true to the lyrics of "All You Need is Love," McCartney walked down the aisle for the third time with Nancy Shevell on October 9th, 2011.
McCartney, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997, reunites with Her Highness on June 12 at the 2012 Diamond Jubilee Concert in London.
With a career that spans for over a half-century, the former Beatle is no stranger to the word "iconic," whether it's regarding his revered work in music or the many revolutionary figures he's met along the way.
By Kauveh Khozein
