The latest edition of the Sunday Times Rich List reveals the largest fall in the billionaire count in the guide’s 37-year history, from a peak of 177 in 2022 to 156 this year
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s fortunes match the team’s performance on the pitch, as it emerged his wealth had plunged by an estimated £6.5billion in the past year. The chemicals magnate, whose Ineos Group bought a near 28% stake in United in February 2024, was the biggest faller on this year’s The Sunday Times Rich List.
The 72-year-old is still worth an eye-watering £17billion, but has slipped to seventh place – having led the rankings of Britain’s mega-wealthy in 2018. The slump was fuelled by losses at his Ineos empire, where debts have grown. The group has also been impacted by US President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs.
It emerged as his struggling United team take on fellow under-performers Tottenham in the Europa League final on Wednesday. However, he is far from alone when it comes to a drop among the super-rich.
David Beckham and Victoria close in on King Charles as net worth soars to new heights
The latest edition of the Rich List reveals the largest fall in the billionaire count in the guide’s 37-year history, from a peak of 177 in 2022 to 156 this year. The number of billionaires has dropped for three successive years – but this year’s decline is the sharpest yet. This year’s list of 350 individuals and families together hold combined wealth of £772.8billion – 3% down on last year
Robert Watts, compiler of the Sunday Times Rich List, said: “Our billionaire count is down and the combined wealth of those who feature in our research is falling. We are also finding fewer of the world’s super-rich are coming to live in the UK.”
He warned there was growing anger among the mega-rich about the expected abolition of non-dom status and tax changes. That is despite millions of ordinary families struggling to make ends mean and Chancellor Rachel Reeves forced to slash spending, and unleash welfare cuts, to plug a blackhole in the government’s finances left by the Tories. Those making it onto this year list needed to scrape by on at least £350million.
At the top is Indian-born British businessman Gopi Hinduja and his family, with a wealth put at £35.billion, though down from £37billion last year.
The list took in both inherited wealth and self-made tycoons. The latter includes ex-market trader Tom Morris, who is behind booming discount chain Home Bargains, and is known as Liverpool’s richest man. The publicity-shy businessman is in 26th place on the list, with his fortune growing from £6.67billion to almost £7billion.
Talking of Liverpool, new entrants this year include Tom and Phil Beahon, the brothers who launched Castore, the sporting brand worn by England’s rugby and cricket teams. They started the business from their parents’ Liverpool home, and have hit the big leagues at £350million, despite still being aged in their 30s.
Interviewed by the Mirror in 2023, former Tranmere Rovers footballer Tom Beahon said he still drove his old VW Polo. “I am still the proud owner of a white VW Polo that must be seven, eight years old. I still drive that,” he said. “I’ve not been on holiday for a while. Neither my brother nor I are massively materialistic people.”
King Charles could only make it to 238rd on the list, though his estimated fortune has risen from £610million to £640million. That put him on level pegging with former Tory PM Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty.
The Rich List also includes a host of celebrities, including Rolling Stones’ legends Sir Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, each with a wealth of £440million – up from £415million in 2024 – and putting them in joint 295th place. Above them is Sir Elton John, with the Rocket Man in 283rd, having amassed a cool £475million of wealth.
Notable entries from the world of sport include FI ace Sir Lewis Hamilton, whose estimated wealth has accelerated from £350million to £385million in the past year. And after just celebrating his 50th birthday in lavish style, David Beckham – along with wife Victoria – are said to be worth half a billion, and up from £455million in 2024. That said, it comes amid reports of ongoing tensions within the Beckham family.
Finally, Barbara Broccoli and half brother Michael G Wilson are said be worth £450million after relinquishing creative control of the 007 James Bond movies to Amazon.
Luke Hildyard, executive director of think tank the High Pay Centre, said: “The Rich List is a useful annual reminder of the inefficiency of the UK economy. It shows a small fall in the value of oligarch assets this year, but over a longer period it illustrates how a tiny handful of very rich people have captured an increasing share of the country’s wealth.
If the super-rich and the companies they own were taxed more effectively and paid the people that work for them a better wage, living standards in Britain would be much higher. Meanwhile the Rich List entrants would still be extremely rich by any reasonable person’s definition and well rewarded for whatever success they have achieved.”
Top 10 from Sunday Times Rich List 2025
- Gopi Hinduja and family (investors) – £35.3bn
- David and Simon Reuben and family (landlords) – £26.87bn
- Sir Leonard Blavatnik (investor) – £25.7bn
- Sir James Dyson and family (investor) – £20.8bn
- Idan Ofer (shipping tycoon) – £20.12bn
- Guy, George, Alannah and Galen Weston and family (heirs and retail) – £17.75bn
- Sir Jim Ratcliffe (chemicals) – £17.bn
- Lakshmi Mittal and family (steel magnate) – £15.4bn
- John Fredriksen and family (oil baron) – £13.68bn
- Igor and Dmitry Bukhman (gamers) – £12.54bn
