Lord Bamford, the Tory peer, is this year’s highest climber in the Midlands in the annual Sunday Times Rich List. There are 171 billionaires in the UK recorded this year, down six from 2022, the first fall for 14 years. The combined wealth of the UK billionaires is £683.8bn, up £30.7bn, or 4.5 per cent, on the total wealth of the billionaires in last year’s Rich List. Their combined estimated wealth is up £158 million and ranks 16th overall in this year’s Rich List. Third placed in the Midlands is Walsall-born Mike Ashley, of sports equipment and fashion business Frasers Group, at £3.84bn – up £845m.

Source: The Times May 19, 2023 06:07 UTC