UK billionaire count falls as wealthy quit Britain, Sunday Times Rich List shows

The Sunday Times Rich List reveals 157 UK billionaires – 20 fewer than four years ago – as Sir David Beckham becomes Britain’s first billionaire sportsman and the Gallagher brothers enter the list after the Oasis reunion

Britain’s billionaire count has fallen as wealthy individuals leave the UK for Dubai, Switzerland and Monaco, according to the latest Sunday Times Rich List.

The annual ranking puts the number of UK billionaires at 157 – 20 fewer than four years ago – with the minimum fortune needed to enter the list falling to £340 million.

Robert Watts, compiler of the list, described the results as a “tale of two exoduses”, with one-in-six families who appeared two years ago no longer featuring in 2026.

He said: “Many foreign billionaires who have been living in the UK have also dropped out because they have moved away.

“We have also seen a sharp rise in the number of British nationals now resident in Dubai, Switzerland and Monaco. As UK nationals these people remain on our Rich List – wherever they now live.”

The movement of ultra-wealthy residents comes after changes including the end of non-domiciled tax status, which had allowed some people living in the UK to avoid tax on income earned overseas.

Watts said the trend raised questions for the economy and the public finances.

He added: “These two exoduses pose challenges for the UK economy and its public finances.

“Will more of the wealthy now set up or grow their ventures overseas and in doing so create fewer jobs here? How much tax – if any – will Rachel Reeves’ Treasury be able to extract from those affluent Brits who have now left the country.”

Sanjay and Dheeraj Hinduja and family top this year’s list with a fortune estimated at £38 billion. The family, which controls the India-based Hinduja Group, also held the top spot last year under former family head Gopi Hinduja, who died in November.

David and Simon Reuben and family are second on £27.97 billion, followed by Sir Leonard Blavatnik on £26.85 billion, Idan Ofer on £24.48 billion, and Guy, George, Alannah and Galen Weston and family on £18.93 billion.

The biggest rise in this year’s ranking belongs to Nik Storonsky, the 41-year-old owner of fintech company Revolut. His wealth rose from £6.97 billion to £16.41 billion after a fundraising round valued the business at £55.6 billion – a gain averaging almost £26 million a day.

Alex Gerko, the Moscow-born mathematician who founded trading platform XTX, also climbed sharply, rising from £8.74 billion to £16 billion.

There were also steep falls among some of Britain’s best-known business figures.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United and founder of petrochemicals group Ineos, saw his estimated fortune fall by nearly £2 billion to £15.19 billion. Sir James Dyson’s wealth was estimated at £12 billion, down £8 billion on last year.

The list also brought major gains for entertainment and sport figures.

Sir David Beckham and Victoria Beckham are estimated to have doubled their wealth in the past year, making the former England captain Britain’s first billionaire sportsman. And Liam and Noel Gallagher entered the list with an estimated £375 million fortune after the sell-out Oasis reunion concerts.

Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis also joined the ranking, with the festival now owned by a family trust and experts suggesting it could be worth £400 million.

Boxing and snooker promoters Eddie and Barry Hearn are also reported to have crossed the billionaire threshold.

The King is estimated to be worth £680 million.

2026 Sunday Times Rich List Top 10

Sanjay and Dheeraj Hinduja and family – £38bn

David and Simon Reuben and family – £27.97bn

Sir Leonard Blavatnik – £26.85bn

Idan Ofer – £24.48bn

Guy, George, Alannah and Galen Weston and family – £18.93bn

Christopher Harborne – £18.17bn

Nik Storonsky – £16.41bn

Alex Gerko – £16bn

Sir Jim Ratcliffe – £15.19bn

Igor and Dmitry Bukhman – £14.26bn

The Sunday Times Rich List is based on identifiable wealth, including land, property, art, racehorses and shares in publicly quoted companies. It does not include bank accounts, to which the newspaper has no access.

READ MORE: Global billionaire wealth hits record as relocation and inheritance accelerate, UBS finds. A new UBS report finds global billionaire wealth at record levels, with more ultra-rich individuals relocating and inheritance playing a growing role in wealth creation.

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_{Main image: The 2026 Sunday Times Rich List records a fall in the number of UK billionaires, alongside major gains for figures including Sir David Beckham and the Gallagher brothers. Artwork: Belters News. Picture credits: Mark Neyman/Government Press Office of Israel, CC BY-SA 3.0; Science History Institute, CC BY-SA 3.0; Soccer Aid for Unicef, CC BY 3.0; freschwill/Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0; White House, Public Domain.}