David Beckham has become Britain's first billionaire sportsman, according to the latest Sunday Times Rich List. The former England captain and his wife Victoria have amassed a fortune of nearly £1.2 billion, nearly double the wealth of King Charles III, whose personal fortune stands at £680 million.
The Beckhams' wealth surged from £500 million a year ago, driven primarily by property investments and Beckham's stake in Major League Soccer club Inter Miami. Beckham invested £16 million in the club, which launched in 2018 and now features star player Lionel Messi. His stake is now estimated at £300 million, with additional property around the club's new 25,000-seater stadium, Freedom Park, valued at £400 million.
The couple's fortune also includes a £50 million London home and a £20 million estate in the Cotswolds. They have jumped from joint 273rd to 141st place on the rich list. The Sunday Times Rich List compiler Robert Watts remarked, 'I wouldn't want to play David Beckham at Monopoly.'
The list tracks the UK's 350 wealthiest individuals and families, with combined wealth rising 1.4% to £784 billion. There are now 157 UK billionaires, though 20 fewer than four years ago. Other notable names include Oasis brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher, worth £375 million, and Glastonbury's Emily Eavis, appearing for the first time.
Separate research by the TUC found the number of billionaires has doubled since 2010, while real wages for ordinary workers have stagnated. TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said, 'We need an economy that rewards work – not just wealth.'
