Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the co-owner of Manchester United, has seen his net worth fall by £1.85 billion over the past year, according to the 2026 Sunday Times Rich List published on May 15. Despite the decline, the 73-year-old remains the wealthiest individual in the North West, with an estimated fortune of £15.194 billion, down from £17.046 billion in 2025.
Ratcliffe, who acquired a 27.7% stake in Manchester United in a £1.25 billion deal in early 2024, built his wealth through INEOS, the petrochemicals giant he founded in 1998. The company, which operates in 27 countries, has seen its valuation cut to £17 billion due to rising debt, falling revenues, and a £515.7 million loss. His current stake in the football club is worth £1.4 billion.
Last week, Ratcliffe warned the UK and Europe over their energy policies, as INEOS completed a deal for a 21% stake in three oil and gas sites off the US east coast. The investment adds to over €3 billion already invested in US operations. In the 2025 Rich List, his net worth had dropped by £6.5 billion, but he remained the seventh wealthiest in the UK; he now ranks ninth.
The Sunday Times Rich List 2026 features 350 individuals and families with a combined wealth of £783.5 billion, roughly a quarter of UK GDP. Notable entries include Sir Elton John, Lord Lloyd-Webber, JK Rowling, and the Gallagher brothers, who appear for the first time with a valuation of £375 million. The minimum entry level fell to £340 million, described by compiler Robert Watts as 'another indicator of a subdued year.'
Watts noted that one in six individuals or families from two years ago no longer appear, with many foreign billionaires leaving the UK and a rise in British nationals relocating to Dubai, Switzerland, and Monaco. He highlighted challenges for the UK economy and public finances, questioning whether the wealthy will create fewer jobs in the UK and how much tax the Treasury can collect from those who have left.
