Queen drops out of top 300 richest people in Britain for the first time as Ukrainian oligarch worth £13billion becomes country's richest man 

  • Monarch ranked 302 on Sunday Times Rich List - slipping from 285 in 2014 
  • Ukrainain oligarch Len Blavatnik tops the roll with a £13.17billion fortune
  • The wealthiest 1,000 individuals have a combined wealth of almost £550bn
  • High-rollers include JK Rowling worth £570m and billionaire Lord Sugar

The Queen has dropped out of the list of the 300 richest people in Britain for the first time, it emerged yesterday.

Although her wealth has increased year-on-year, her assets have been dwarfed by hundreds of financiers and businessmen.

Britain’s super-rich are now more than twice as rich as they were in 2009, despite the catastrophic economic crisis. 

Queen Elizabeth II, pictured at Westminster Abbey yesterday. She placed 302nd on the Sunday Times Rich List with a wealth of £340m, compared with 285th last year and putting her outside of the top 300 for the first time

Queen Elizabeth II, pictured at Westminster Abbey yesterday. She placed 302nd on the Sunday Times Rich List with a wealth of £340m, compared with 285th last year and putting her outside of the top 300 for the first time

Len Blavatnick, pictured left with his wife Emily, topped the Sunday Times Rich List with a fortune of £13.2bn. Brothers Sri and Gopi Hinduja were pushed into second placed as their wealth was valued at £13bn

RICH LIST: TOP 5 RICHEST PEOPLE

1. Len Blavatnik £13.17billion (Investment, music and media)

2. Sri and Gopi Hinduja: £13billion (Industry and finance)

3. Galena and George Weston and family: £11billion (Retailing)

4. Alisher Usmanov: £9.8billion (Mining and investment)

5. David and Simon Reubeb: £9.7billion (Property and internet) 

Today the wealthiest 1,000 people based in Britain are collectively worth £547billion, up from £258billion in 2009, an increase of 112 per cent.

Those placed lowest on the 1,000 rankings have around £100million – £45million more than in 2009 and £15million more than last year, the biggest annual leap in 18 years.

The findings are revealed in this year’s Sunday Times Rich List, which consists of people who are British, who live and work in the UK, or who have ‘strong links’ to this country.

The Queen’s wealth grew modestly in the last year by £10million to £340million, leaving her at number 302 – down from 285 in 2014. Almost three decades ago, when the list was first compiled, the Queen was placed at the top, with £5.2billion.

However, the rules of the list have changed to stop counting the value of assets such as the royal art collection, which could not be described as her personal wealth.

Much of the rise in her income recently is down a record year for the Crown Estate in 2013-14, with profits of £267million. 

Under new financing rules, the 89-year-old monarch receives 15 per cent of the Crown Estate profits via the Sovereign Grant. 

Lord Alan Sugar is a billionaire for the first time, according to The Sunday Times Rich List
Author J.K. Rowling earns £1 for each Harry Potter book sold, as well as a cut from the film rights

 Lord Alan Sugar is a billionaire for the first time, according to The Sunday Times Rich List, while JK Rowling continues to earn from the Harry Potter franchise as well as her adult bestseller The Casual Vacancy

George Clooney's marriage to human rights lawyer Amal means the couple's wealth also features at no. 790

George Clooney's marriage to human rights lawyer Amal means the couple's wealth also features at no. 790

Roman Abramovich, the seventh wealthiest person in the UK according to the Rich List (right) speaks to Jose Mourinho, manager of Chelsea FC which he owns. Abramovich made his wealth through oil and industry

Roman Abramovich, the seventh wealthiest person in the UK according to the Rich List (right) speaks to Jose Mourinho, manager of Chelsea FC which he owns. Abramovich made his wealth through oil and industry

Among the new entries are Hollywood actor George Clooney and his lawyer wife Amal, who married in September.

Worth an estimated £121million, the pair are listed at number 790 above a number of super-wealthy businessmen and aristocrats.

Other celebrities on the list include David and Victoria Beckham, as their joint wealth increases to £240million thanks to his sponsorship deals with Adidas and H&M.

The footballer, 39, is now one of the country’s leading philanthropists, with his latest project, 7: The David Beckham Unicef Fund, aiming to raise £7million for needy children in the next three years.

Apprentice star Alan Sugar is now a billionaire for the first time, after his wealth increased by £140million to £1.04billion. 

PROFILE: LEN BLAVATNIK (WORTH £13.7BILLION)

Blavatnik, pictured with singer Katherine Jenkins

Blavatnik, pictured with singer Katherine Jenkins

Len Blavatnik, a businessman and music mogul born in Ukraine, tops this year’s Rich List with an estimated personal wealth of £13.17billion.

The 57-year-old built much of his fortune, which is up £3.17billion on 2014, from Russian oil in an unlikely alliance with BP, but also bought Warner Music in 2011 and later added Parlophone, the Beatles’ label, to his growing number of interests.

The son of two Jewish academics, he emigrated to New York in 1978 and became a US citizen in 1984.

Two years later, he started an investment company, Access Industries, and with Viktor Vekselberg and Mikhail Fridman he gained control of the oil producer TNK, partner of BP. When TNK-BP was sold in 2013, Blavatnik’s share was more than £4billion.

Access’s stakes in aluminium producer Rusal and chemicals firm LyondellBasell meant his wealth continued to grow.

Blavatnik has two daughters and two sons with his American wife, Emily Appelson. At his 50th birthday party, she surprised him by dancing with a troupe of professionals in a Russian ballet. He owns a £41million mansion in London’s Kensington, recently paid $77million (£50.7million) for a five-bedroom duplex in New York, and has donated £75million to Oxford University to found the Blavatnik School of Government.

Blavatnik’s ten quoted and private company stakes are worth £9billion. With £3billion of cash, £440million of property and other assets, he is worth £13.17billion.

APPRENTICE STAR IS RANKED 101... BUT NOW SUGAR'S MADE A BILLION

He may have just missed out on the top 100, but Lord Sugar is unlikely to be unhappy with his lot after becoming a billionaire for the first time this year.

The 68-year-old businessman was ranked 101 in the Rich List for his £1.04billion wealth.

Lord Sugar, pictured with Apprentice winner Leah Totton, has £700million of real estate, while net profits for Amshold, his holding company, soared to £552m in 2013-14

Lord Sugar, pictured with Apprentice winner Leah Totton, has £700million of real estate, while net profits for Amshold, his holding company, soared to £552m in 2013-14

He was described by The Sunday Times as ‘super-boss and master of the acerbic put-down’ on The Apprentice.

The BBC show first ran in 2005, with winners including Leah Totton, who triumphed in 2013, securing Lord Sugar’s backing to open a cosmetic clinic.

Lord Sugar has £700million of real estate, while net profits for Amshold, his holding company, soared to £552m in 2013-14.

There are now 117 sterling billionaires based in Britain, up 12 per cent on last year, but only 62 are British – including Sir Richard Branson, Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley and Sir James Dyson.

At the top of Britain’s cash pile is Ukraine-born Len Blavatnik, who has investments in music, industry and media, and is worth £13.17billion, up £3.17billion on 2014.

A Briton on the average annual wage of £25,000 would need to work for 526,800 years to earn the same.

At number two are India-born brothers Sri and Gopi Hinduja, who have family interests in industry and global finance and are worth £13billion. The Anglo-Canadian Weston family, who own Primark as well as Selfridges and Fortnum & Mason in London, are third with £11billion. 

WEALTHIEST CELEBRITIES 

David and Victoria Beckham, worth £240million

David and Victoria Beckham, worth £240million

Ranked: 

154: Songwriter and former Bealte Sir Paul McCartney and wife Nancy Shevell, worth £730million

172: Composer and musical theatre maestro Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, worth £650million 

313: TV talent show creator and owner of SyCo music label Simon Cowell, worth £325million

371: Musician and pianist Elton John, worth £270million

410: Football and fashion due David and Victoria Beckham, worth £240million 

425: Rolling Stone Sir Mick Jagger, worth £225 million 

Sir Philip Green, left, next to model Naomi Campbell (centre). daughter Chloe (centre right) and wife Lady Tina Green (right). Their fashion empire saw them land 22nd out of 1,000 included in the list with a wealth of £3.5bn

Sir Philip Green, left, next to model Naomi Campbell (centre). daughter Chloe (centre right) and wife Lady Tina Green (right). Their fashion empire saw them land 22nd out of 1,000 included in the list with a wealth of £3.5bn

RICH LIST AGED 30 AND UNDER

Twilight star Robert Pattinson, worth £65million

Twilight star Robert Pattinson, worth £65million

1. Robin Arora: £1.75bn (Discount stores B&M Bargains) - aged 29.

2. Tom Persson, £624million (Fashion) - aged 29

3. Fawn and India Rose James: £454million (Property) - aged 23

4. Thomas Mackie, 27, and family: £350million (Electrical goods) - aged 27

5. Tim, 29, and Pollyanna, 28, Gredley and family: £184million (Property and horse-racing)

6. Peter Cashmore: £150million (Internet) -aged 29 

7. Lewis Hamilton: £88million (Motor racing) - aged 30

8. Wayne and Coleen Rooney: £86million (Football) - aged 29

9. Daniel Radcliffe: £69million (Films) - aged 25

10. Robert Pattinson: £65million (Films) - aged 28 

The stars of the Harry Potter movies continue to benefit from the films' enduring appeal. Daniel Radcliffe (centre) is worth £66million, Rupert Grint (left) worth £26million and Emma Watson (right) £33million

The stars of the Harry Potter movies continue to benefit from the films' enduring appeal. Daniel Radcliffe (centre) is worth £66million, Rupert Grint (left) worth £26million and Emma Watson (right) £33million

Swiss businessman Ernesto Bertarelli and his wife Kirsty, a former Miss UK, have a £9.45billion fortune

Swiss businessman Ernesto Bertarelli and his wife Kirsty, a former Miss UK, have a £9.45billion fortune

Two women made the top 10, with Kirsten Rausing (pictured at Ascot) and her brother Jorn - grandchildren of the founder of Tetra Pak - sitting on £8.8billion

Two women made the top 10, with Kirsten Rausing (pictured at Ascot) and her brother Jorn - grandchildren of the founder of Tetra Pak - sitting on £8.8billion

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