Harborne enters Rich List at No 6 amid parliamentary probe into Farage gift
The Sunday Times Rich List reveals a 1.4% rise in total wealth among the UK’s 350 wealthiest, with 157 billionaires now recorded.
Crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne has entered the Sunday Times Rich List at number six, with an estimated fortune of £18.17bn. Harborne is identified as the richest British-born person on the publication’s ranking of the 350 wealthiest UK residents and Britons abroad. His entry coincides with an ongoing investigation by the parliamentary standards watchdog into a £5m gift he provided to Nigel Farage.
The donation, made weeks before Farage announced his candidacy in the 2024 general election, has drawn scrutiny regarding compliance with parliamentary rules. Farage initially stated the funds were for personal security costs, but following reports that he purchased a £1.4m property in cash shortly after receiving the money, he later described the payment as a “reward” for 27 years of Brexit campaigning. The watchdog is currently assessing whether the gift falls within regulations requiring declarations for donations received in the 12 months prior to entering parliament.
The Hinduja family retained the top spot on the list with a combined wealth of £38bn through their Indian conglomerate, the Hinduja Group. The total wealth of the UK’s 350 wealthiest individuals and families rose by 1.4% over the last year to £784bn. The number of billionaires in the UK increased by one to 157, reversing a three-year decline from a peak of 177 in 2022.
Several new entrants joined the billionaire club, including Noel and Liam Gallagher, estimated to have a fortune of £375m following a comeback tour that generated nearly £400m from 41 shows. David and Victoria Beckham also debuted on the list with £1.18bn, their wealth doubling due to David’s stake in Inter Miami and a property empire adjoining the stadium, alongside a financial turnaround in Victoria’s fashion label. Labour donor Gary Lubner, with an estimated £1.3bn, has pledged to give away 95% of his fortune, while sports promoters Barry and Eddie Hearn also made their first appearance.
Robert Watts, the compiler of the rich list, noted significant shifts in the composition of the UK’s wealthiest, citing an exodus of foreign billionaires and a rise in British nationals moving to Dubai, Switzerland, and Monaco. He observed that one in six individuals and families from the list two years ago no longer feature, reflecting a changing landscape of global wealth distribution.
