10. David and Frederick Barclay Net Worth: $8 Billion
Starting
off our list of richest members of the United Kingdom are the twin
Barclay Brothers, David and Frederick. The pair have many merged
business interests including the Elleman shipping line, Littlewoods,
Woolworths, Ladybird and the currently failing Yodel store brand. They
have also carried significant financial interest in the newspaper
business, including the Telegraph Media Group. In terms of real estate,
the brothers also own a castle in one of the Channel Islands, which
technically falls outside the governmental jurisdiction of the home
island of Sark and carries both a helicopter pad and a pool the size of
some houses. The brothers have frequently been accused of being tax
exiles, often paying no tax on their corporate holdings due to their
formal residence being in Monaco (though the two are more often than not
found within London), which has sullied their reputation in the past.9. Galen Weston Net Worth: $9.6 Billion
Making
it to the number 9 spot, Galen Weston was also the youngest of nine
children to Garfield Weston, himself the son of George Weston who was a
key player in streamlining the modern bakery model around the world.
Having the backing of 3 generations of riches, Galen would go on to
found his own grocery store first in Dublin, Ireland and then acquiring
the failing Loblaw brand in Ontario. He would use Loblaw as a template
for turning failure into success in several other countries in the
Americas, and gain significant fortunes from it. He would also throw $40
million into the development of private and generic brands in the
1970s, a massive investment at the time. This would turn out to be a
wild success, saving consumers and making his brands surprisingly
profitable. Weston now also owns stores within the United Kingdom and
the Netherlands, and also contributes around $200 million to various
charitable causes through the W. Garfield Weston Foundation.
8. John Fredriksen Net Worth: $9.7 Billion
Owning
the world’s largest oil tanker fleet has its benefits, an ocean of
money being among them. Fredriksen, a Cyprus national born in Norway who
now lives in London, also owns a large fishing company (Marine
Harvest), Deep See Suply, Golar LNG and the Golden Ocean Group which
ships dry goods. Fredriksen can trace much of his fortunes to the
Iran-Iraq war, where his fleet of double hulled tankers would provide
much needed transport for the Iranian side, which in turn meant
absolutely massive profits. These would later help in bankrolling the
above ventures as well as Seadrill who acquired Smedvig, a large
Norwegian petroleum company. Outside of his work, Fredriksen continues
to support the Radium Hospital (part of the Oslo University Hospital
system) with hundreds of millions of dollars.
7. David and Simon Reuben Net Worth: $10.6 Billion
Originally born in Mumbai, India but schooled in London by the ages of 9 and 6, the Reuben brothers would find their wealth primarily through the metals industry. Starting out trading in scrap metal, and then partnering with Merrill Lynch, the brothers would found a company in 1977, with Simon also acquiring England’s oldest carpet manufacturer J Holdsworth and Company. They would quickly turn around the profits from these businesses into properties and the Russian metal market (though these holdings would quickly be transferred out to the UK’s Real Estate market at the turn of the millennium). Current holdings include a slew of properties from London to Ibiza, as well as multiple airports and courses for motor racing.
6. Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken Net Worth: $12.3 Billion.
One
of the richest women in the world (with one of the most recognizable
last names) is also the 6th richest person in the United Kingdom.
Executive director of Heineken brewing, and holding 25% of total shares
in the business. Her wealth can mostly be attributed to these holdings,
and also in joint investment ventures alongside her husband Michel de
Carvalho, who had been a financier with such big names as Citi and
Rothschild. The pair currently live in London with their five children.5. Lakshmi Mittal Net Worth: $12.6 Billion
Landing
at the midway point of the list is Steel tycoon, Lakshmi Mittal. Born
and raised in India (and currently taking residence in London) Mittal is
one of the founding members of the ArcelorMittal which is the world’s
largest steel producer, and also owns Karrick Limited. Outside of his
business ventures, Mittal also retains membership as a chair or director
for the Queen’s Park Football Club, World Steel Association,
International Advisory Boards for both Kazakhstan and Mozambique, and is
on the board for both Northwestern University’s School of Business and
the Cleveland Clinic. He has also partnered with Rajasthan to found his
own university, LNMMIT. As an aside, Mittal has hosted the second most
expensive wedding in all of recorded history for his niece Shrishti,
which reportedly went on for three days at a cost of 50 million pounds.
4. Leonard Blavatnik Net Worth: $15.3 Billion
Russian and American educated and with an American passport (as well as a headquarters in New York), one might find it odd that Len Blavatnik has made it onto the list. However, soon after he had made his riches from forming international conglomerate Access Industries, Blavatnik found London to be a more suitable home. While Access has and remained a huge success, Len has found other fortunes in investment into Russia after the fall of the communist government, particularly in acquiring the newly privatized oil, plastics and metal fields. Paired with Mikahil Fridman to form the AAR venture, he is also a major player in the formation of of BP-TNK, a British and Russian gas petrol partnership. In terms of philanthropies, Blavatnik has provided funding for Oxford University to build a new School of Government, as well as helping build or maintain multiple charities to Tel Aviv University and the poor of Israel.
3. Hugh Richard Louis Grosvenor, Earl Grosvenor Net Worth: $16 Billion
Aristocrat,
billionaire, and Accounts Manager at a green energy company, Earl
Grosvenor is also the richest person in the world under 30 years of age.
Having inherited most of his wealth from his father, (and quite a bit
of it being held to be distributed to his siblings) the young Earl has
not merely rested in wait for riches. Alongside his work as an accounts
manager, he has also gained a bachelors degree in countryside
management, and spends a considerable amount of time aiding his siblings
Lady Edwina, Tamara and Viola in multiple philanthropic ventures
including British prison reform. In 2013, the Earl was named godfather
to Prince George of Cambridge.2. S.P. Hinduja Net Worth: $16.2 Billion
Starting
off his career in the textile factories of his father in both Mumbai,
India and Tehran, Iran, S.P. Hinduja would soon learn that diversity was
key to massive success. In the 1960’s, Hinduja would invest into buying
the rights to the popular film Sangam, which he would distribute
overseas and reinvest the earnings into food distribution. He would then
expand into the oil business during the 1980s, paired with swiss banks,
and eventually even go into the tech sector alongside the acquisition
of a liquid metal firm in the United States in the 2000’s. His holdings
also include a library of real estate, including a $500 million
residence down the street from Buckingham Palace.1. Kirsty and Ernesto Bertarelli Net Worth: $16.9 Billion
The
biggest power couple in terms of British Finance, former Miss UK and
songwriter KirstyBertarelli and Biotech tycoon turned Capital giant Ernesto Bertarelli are the richest people within the United Kingdom. A majority of the couples money has been from the Serono Biotech company, handed down for the third generation, which has recently focused on developments to treat female infertility and the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. The couple would then also form the Bertarelli Foundation (using some of the money gained by their success in the Waypoint Capital enterprise) to further research into marine conservation and life science research, which has apparently gained significant returns as well. Kirsty for her part has gained significant attention as a songwriter and performer, keeping a near constant theme of environmental protection and peace, though her most popular song “Black Coffee” could be described as an electropop single and was performed by All Saints in 2000 just before their break up. The couple also have holdings in multiple Yacht racing leagues, and themselves own a 314 yacht, Vava II.
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