The 2025 Sunday Times Rich List has revealed a striking transformation in the UK’s wealth landscape, with a decline in the number of billionaires and a surge in King Charles III’s personal fortune.
For the first time in the 37-year history of the Rich List, the number of UK-based billionaires has dropped—from 165 in 2024 to 156 in 2025. According to Robert Watts, the compiler of the list, the dip reflects economic uncertainty, global financial shifts, and recent tax reforms that have discouraged many ultra-wealthy individuals from settling in the UK.
“The super-rich are showing signs of strain,” Watts noted. “And fewer of them now call Britain home.”
In contrast to the general downturn, King Charles III has enjoyed a notable increase of £30 million in personal wealth over the past year, bringing his fortune to an estimated £640 million. This leap places him alongside former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murty, and £270 million ahead of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
The growth in the King’s wealth is largely credited to income from the Duchy of Lancaster—a private estate worth £654 million, which generates roughly £20 million annually—and shrewd investments inherited from Queen Elizabeth.
UK’s Top 5 Wealthiest for 2025:
- Gopi Hinduja & Family – £35.3 billion (down from £37.2 billion)
- David & Simon Reuben & Family – £26.87 billion
- Sir Leonard Blavatnik – £25.73 billion
- Sir James Dyson & Family – £20.8 billion
- Idan Ofer – £20.12 billion
One of the list’s biggest shocks came from Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a co-owner of Manchester United, whose wealth fell by £6.473 billion to £17.046 billion, pushing him from 4th to 7th place.
Entertainment Stars on the Rise
The Rich List also features several British entertainment icons:
- Dua Lipa, age 29, is the youngest on the under-40 list, with £115 million.
- Harry Styles, 31, follows with £225 million.
- Ed Sheeran, 34, tops the music segment with £370 million.
These figures represent the shifting focus of wealth in the UK, as cultural and digital influence increasingly become pathways to fortune.
The 2025 Sunday Times Rich List not only tracks the movement of money, but also reflects broader changes in Britain’s financial, social, and political environments. As royal fortunes rise and the billionaire count declines, the UK’s wealth narrative is being rewritten.
