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Beckham joins billionaire ranks as UK wealth landscape shifts
Former England football captain Sir David Beckham has become the UK's first billionaire sportsman, with his and wife Victoria's combined fortune estimated at £1.2bn, according to the Sunday Times Rich List.
Hinduja brothers retain top spot for fifth year
Sanjay and Dheeraj Hinduja continue to lead the annual ranking with a £38bn fortune, derived from their conglomerate's interests in energy, finance and transport sectors. The list's top ten remains dominated by long-standing business dynasties and investors.
Key movers and new entrants
Fintech entrepreneur Nik Storonsky and trading magnate Alex Gerko saw the largest wealth increases this year. Meanwhile, Oasis musicians Noel and Liam Gallagher debuted on the list with an estimated £375m fortune.
Glastonbury Festival organiser Emily Eavis and her family entered the rankings with £400m, while political donor Christopher Harborne secured sixth place after high-profile contributions to Reform UK.
Declining fortunes and departures
Inventor Sir James Dyson experienced the steepest decline, dropping £8.8bn to £12bn, partly attributed to US trade tariffs. Manchester United shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe also saw his wealth decrease from £17bn to £15.1bn.
The list's compiler Robert Watts noted significant turnover, with one in six entries from two years ago no longer appearing. Many foreign billionaires have relocated, while British nationals increasingly reside in tax-friendly jurisdictions like Dubai and Monaco.
Royal wealth and cultural figures
King Charles saw his estimated fortune rise by £40m to £680m, surpassing former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty (£563m). The list also features entertainment icons including Sir Elton John, Lord Lloyd-Webber, and JK Rowling.
Young wealth creators
The 40 Under 40 list highlights rising fortunes, with 34 self-made individuals including boxer Tyson Fury. Nearly a third of these young millionaires are connected to London-based AI startups. Gymshark founder Ben Francis, who left university to build his sportswear empire, ranks fifth with £800m.
"Imagine if we tried to sell Glastonbury out. It would be awful. It would be the end. I'd rather literally die before that happens."
Emily Eavis, Glastonbury organiser
Methodology notes
The Sunday Times calculates wealth based on identifiable assets including property, art, and company shares, excluding private bank accounts. The 2026 edition records 157 UK billionaires, down from 177 four years ago.
