Andy Burnham, the frontrunner to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister following his resignation, has long advocated tax reform. During his successful Makerfield by-election campaign, Burnham made spending commitments likely to require additional funding. This has raised concerns that Britain's wealthiest individuals may leave the country if his policies are enacted. Below are the billionaires featured in the Sunday Times Rich List 2026 who could be affected.
1. Sanjay and Dheeraj Hinduja and family: £38bn
Sanjay and Dheeraj Hinduja led their family to the top of the 2026 Sunday Times Rich List after their father Gopichand Hinduja's death. They emerged as the UK's richest for the fifth successive year. The Hinduja Group operates in over 30 countries, with investments across media, tech, project development, real estate, trading, and healthcare. Last month, reacting to the government crisis, Sanjay told The Times: "Stability is important. Three prime ministers for the UK in two years is not so good for stability."
2. David and Simon Reuben and family: £27.971bn
The India-born British billionaire businessmen and philanthropists were born in Mumbai to Iraqi-Jewish parents and raised in London. They built a massive fortune spanning prime real estate, data centres, technology, and sports. The Reuben brothers are well-known, long-standing financial backers of the Conservative Party and later donated £100,000 to Reform.
3. Sir Leonard Blavatnik: £26.852bn
Len Blavatnik's most valuable asset is a controlling stake in the $15 billion Warner Music. Through his private holding company Access Industries, he owns a property portfolio worth £2 billion. Recently, he paid $115 million for a house in the Hamptons. He also donated £10 million to the Courtauld Gallery. The Ukrainian-born, Russia-raised man has both British and US citizenship and lives primarily between New York City and London. In the past, Conservative MP Robert Jenrick registered £25,000 from Access Industries UK.
4. Idan Ofer: £24.481bn
Idan Ofer's main source of wealth is international shipping and industrial conglomerates. He is the principal of Singapore-based Quantum Pacific Group, which owns Eastern Pacific Shipping, and is Chairman of Israel Corporation. Ofer also has a 28% stake in Atlético Madrid and an 85% stake in FC Famalicão. The Israeli billionaire maintains a long-standing base in London and has a significant residential real estate footprint in Manhattan.
Other billionaires on the list include Sir James Ratcliffe, the Hinduja family's next generation, and others whose fortunes could be impacted by Burnham's potential reforms. The Sunday Times Rich List 2026 shows a combined wealth of over £150 billion among the top 10, highlighting the scale of assets that could be subject to new taxes.
