Bono a Billionaire? Rocker Debunks Facebook IPO Rumor During MSNBC Interview

As we noted in our post about Facebook mania on cable news, one of the big Facebook IPO-related stories making the rounds today was that U2 frontman Bono is now a billionaire and the richest rock star on earth, thanks to his early investment in the social networking company.

Coincidentally, Bono appeared on MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports” this afternoon from the G8 Summit, where he debunked the rumor:

Transcript after the jump.

Mitchell: Now, speaking of information technology, you have been so innovative. You’ve been on the — the cutting edge of this. Back in 2009, I think, you were first investing in Facebook. It’s gone public. You are reportedly going to con — you know, conceivably have this huge payout.

Tell me about Facebook, what you see in it, what the business model is and what you think it’s going to accrue to your own investment.

Bono: Well, contrary to reports, in bus — I am not a — this boy is not a billionaire. And — or going to be richer than any people. And not just in the sense of money, by the way. The Beatles are untouchable. That’s just a joke… We — you know, in Elevation, we invest other people’s money — endowments, pension funds. We do get paid and — and that is a — a good thing. We will get, you know, I’m blessed.