Sir Paul McCartney has made history as the first UK musician to attain billionaire status, as reported by the Sunday Times Rich List. At 81, the former Beatle saw a £50 million increase in wealth over the past year, attributed to touring, the value of his extensive back catalogue, and Beyoncé’s cover of his 1968 classic track, “Blackbird.”
Topping the list, however, were Gopi Hinduja and family, with a staggering wealth of £37.2 billion, the highest ever recorded by the newspaper.
Other notable names on the list included Sir Elton John, Lord Lloyd-Webber, and the Beckhams, with a minimum entry wealth of £350 million for inclusion.
The combined wealth of the 350 individuals and families on this year’s list amounted to £795.3 billion, surpassing the GDP of Poland.
Despite this wealth, compiler Robert Watts noted a slowdown in Britain’s billionaire growth, with some entrepreneurs experiencing financial declines and global super-rich individuals relocating away from the UK, potentially impacting British livelihoods.
Familiar faces such as Sir Richard Branson and Sir Jim Ratcliffe faced setbacks, with Branson’s wealth dropping to £2.4 billion, reminiscent of levels seen in 2000.
Ratcliffe, despite purchasing a stake in Manchester United, experienced considerable losses due to declines in profits at Ineos Group. Inventor Sir James Dyson and Andy Currie also witnessed significant declines in wealth.
New entries to the list included Graham King, who amassed £750 million from various ventures, and Jon and Susie Seaton, founders of education publisher Twinkl, valued at £500 million.
Euan Blair, son of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, entered the list with his £1.4 billion apprenticeship tech firm, Multiverse. Formula 1 driver Sir Lewis Hamilton, expected to join Ferrari in 2025, also debuted on the list.
Despite economic challenges, the Sunday Times Rich List continues to highlight entrepreneurs achieving wealth through diverse avenues, from artificial intelligence and virtual worlds to traditional sectors like plumbing supplies and education aids.
