Beckhams Hit Billionaire Status While Oasis Brothers Debut on Sunday Times Rich List

Beckhams Cross the Billion-Pound Mark as UK's Wealthy Elite Shifts

The latest edition of the Sunday Times Rich List has delivered some headline-grabbing revelations, with Sir David Beckham cementing his place in history as the United Kingdom's first billionaire sportsman. Together with his wife Lady Victoria Beckham, the power couple's combined fortune is now estimated at £1.2 billion — a remarkable doubling of their wealth in just 12 months.

Adding further star power to this year's rankings, rock legends Noel and Liam Gallagher of Oasis fame have made their debut appearance on the prestigious list, with the brothers' joint wealth estimated at £375 million.

Hinduja Brothers Retain the Crown

For the fifth year running, Sanjay and Dheeraj Hinduja lead the pack with a staggering combined fortune of £38 billion. The siblings oversee the Hinduja Group, a global conglomerate with extensive interests spanning oil, gas, banking, and transportation. Coming in second place are David and Simon Reuben and their family, estimated at £27.9 billion, while Guy, George, Alannah, and Galen Weston and family hold fifth position with £18.9 billion.

Biggest Movers: Rising Stars and Falling Giants

Notable Climbers

This year's standout risers include Nik Storonsky, co-founder of the fintech giant Revolut, and trading entrepreneur Alex Gerko, both of whom recorded significant jumps in estimated wealth.

King Charles also saw his fortune grow, with an additional £40 million bringing his estimated wealth to £680 million — placing him at number 230 on the list and nudging him ahead of former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty, whose combined wealth is pegged at £563 million.

Notable Fallers

Not everyone enjoyed a prosperous year. Inventor Sir James Dyson saw his estimated worth tumble by £8.8 billion to £12 billion, a decline the Sunday Times attributed in part to the impact of US tariffs introduced under President Donald Trump. Manchester United part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe also slipped, with his fortune falling from £17 billion to £15.19 billion.

New Faces Join the Elite

This year welcomed several fresh additions to the list. Glastonbury Festival organiser Emily Eavis and her family entered with an estimated fortune of £400 million. Eavis, who has previously spoken about the festival's ethos, has been vocal about prioritising charitable giving over profit.

Entrepreneur Christopher Harborne also made a notable debut, landing in sixth place. The British billionaire attracted significant public attention earlier in 2024 following revelations of a £5 million donation to Nigel Farage, making him one of Reform UK's largest financial backers on record.

Other well-known names gracing the list include Sir Elton John, Lord Lloyd-Webber, Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, JK Rowling, Charlotte Tilbury, Sir Brian May, and Sir Lewis Hamilton.

A Tale of Two Exoduses

The Sunday Times now counts 157 UK billionaires — a drop of 20 compared to four years ago. Rich List compiler Robert Watts described this year's findings as "a tale of two exoduses."

"One in six of the individuals and families who appeared on the list two years ago don't feature this time," Watts noted. He added that a growing number of British nationals are now residing in Dubai, Switzerland, and Monaco, while at least 15 foreign nationals who appeared last year have been removed after relocating abroad.

Nearly a third of UK citizens on the list no longer live on the British mainland, reflecting a broader trend of wealth migration away from the UK.

The list is compiled using identifiable assets including land, property, art, racehorses, and significant shareholdings in publicly quoted companies. Private bank account balances are not factored in.

Under-40s Rich List: Youth, AI, and Old Money

The paper's accompanying 40 Under 40 Rich List also made for compelling reading. Boxer Tyson Fury made his debut on this younger-focused ranking, joining 34 other entrants who have built their fortunes independently. Notably, almost a third of the list's entrants have ties to London-based artificial intelligence start-ups.

Topping the under-40 rankings are the Duke and Duchess of Westminster with an estimated £9.7 billion, while Gymshark founder Ben Francis — who famously dropped out of university to grow his sportswear brand — came in fifth place with a fortune estimated at £800 million.