Sir David Beckham has become the UK's first billionaire sportsman, according to the 2026 Sunday Times Rich List. The former England footballer and his wife, Lady Victoria Beckham, have seen their combined fortune more than double to £1.185 billion, up from £500 million in the previous year.
The sharp increase in wealth is attributed to Sir David's investments in the United States, particularly his stake in Inter Miami. The signing of Lionel Messi to the club until 2028 has significantly boosted the value of the Beckhams' holding. Meanwhile, revenues at Lady Beckham's fashion line have surpassed £100 million.
The list, which ranks the wealthiest individuals and families in the UK, recorded 157 billionaires this year, up from 156 in 2025. Sanjay and Dheeraj Hinduja top the list following the death of their father, Gopichand Hinduja, patriarch of the Hinduja Group. Other high-profile billionaires include Sir James Dyson and Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
The top 20 includes Guy, George, Alannah and Galen Weston and family (£18.939 billion), Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken and Michel de Carvalho (£10.215 billion), the Duke of Westminster and the Grosvenor family (£9.677 billion), and Marit, Lisbet, Dame Sigrid and Sir Hans Rausing (£8.888 billion).
