Sunday Times Rich List: Sir Jim Ratcliffe's worth after buying Manchester United stake revealed

Sir Jim Ratcliffe's worth after buying a stake in Manchester United has been revealed in a new list of the country's wealthiest people..

According to the Sunday Times Rich List, chemicals magnate Sir Jim Ratcliffe has a fortune of £23.5 billion. The INEOS founder, chairman and chief executive was second on last year’s list, but has fallen to fourth this year.

It comes after he bought a 27.7 per cent stake to become co-owner of Manchester United. Sir Jim completed his acquisition of 25 per cent of the Club's class B shares and 25 per cent of the club's Class A shares in February.

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Ratcliffe has agreed to pay £26 ($33) per share for a quarter of the Class A shares, as well as paying that price for 25 per cent of the Class B shares held by the Glazer family. Each Class B shares confers 10 times as many votes as a Class A share, reported Sky. The purchase cost Sir Jim £1.25bn earlier this year.

Another sir from down the road to hit the Rich List was Sir Paul McCartney. He has become a billionaire Beatle, the new figures reveal.

The legendary singer songwriter saw his wealth grow another £50 milion in the past year after touring and the lucrative value of his back catalogue, along with covers of the famous Beatles hit, 'Blackbird', by Beyoncé on her smash hit Cowboy Carter album. Sir Paul has become the first UK musician to achieve billionaire status.

The 81-year-old ex-Beatles is only 165th on the latest ranking of Britain’s super-wealthy. But he is still estimated to be worth double fellow megastar Sir Elton John, whose wealth is estimated, at £470 million, and is 291st on the list.

And it makes Sir Paul, who grew up in a post-war terraced house in Allerton in south Liverpool, worth considerably more than the King Charles. The Rich List estimates the King is worth £610 million - putting him in 258th place - and up from £600 million in 2023.

Yet the monarch is towards the bottom of the 300 richest people in Britain included in this year’s ranking. At the top is Indian-born British businessman Gopi Hinduja and his family, with a wealth is put at almost £37.2 billion, up from £35 billion last year and the largest fortune ever recorded in the history of the Rich List.

Tory Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and wife Akshata Murty are said to be worth £651 million, putting them 245st on the list.

David and Victoria Beckham, in comparison, have amassed a fortune that grew another £30 million to £455 million, the latest report says. The research also reveals the largest fall in the billionaire count in the guide’s 36-year history, from a peak of 177 in 2022 to 165 this year.

Robert Watts, compiler of the Sunday Times Rich List, says it suggests “Britain’s billionaire boom has come to an end. “Many of our home-grown entrepreneurs have seen their fortunes fall and some of the global super rich who came here are moving away.”

Virgin tycoon Sir Richard Branson, who lives on the private Caribbean island of Necker, is nevertheless on the list. His wealth has fallen to an estimated £2.4 billion, or back to what he was worth in 2000.

That said, he could net upwards of £650m from the proposed sale of lender Virgin Money to the Nationwide building society. Also released is The Sunday Times 40 under 40 Rich List, featuring the likes of singers Adele and Dua Lipa and England football captain Harry Kane.

Topping the list is the soon-to-be-married Duke of Westminster, who inherited his title and a vast land and property portfolio aged 25. His family’s wealth is estimated at more than £10 billion. Now 33, he oversees the dynasty’s company portfolio in 12 countries.

He will marry Olivia Henson, 31, next month and the Prince of Wales will be a guest of honour at the ceremony at Chester Cathedral. Fifth on the list is Gymshark tycoon Ben Francis (£725 million).

Back to music and Harry Styles has amassed a £175m packet, just ahead of Adele on £170m and almost double Dua Lipa’s £90m. In the world of sport, love split golfer Rory McIlroy is worth £225m, F1 ace Lewis Hamilton ninth (£350m), and ex-Spurs striker Harry Kane £75m.

Top 10 overall from Sunday Times Rich List 2024

1. Gopi Hinduja and family - £37.2bn

2. Sir Leonard Blavatnik - £29.2bn

3. David and Simon Reuben and family - £24.9bn

4. Sir Jim Ratcliffe - £23.5bn

5. Sir James Dyson and family - £20.8bn

6. Barnaby and Merlin Swire and family - £17.2bn

7. Idan Ofer - £14.96bn

8. Lakshmi Mittal and family - £14.92bn

9. Guy, George, Alannah and Galen Weston and family - £14.49bn

10. John Fredriksen and family - £12.9bn