King Charles's Wealth Climbs as UK Billionaires Decline in 2025 Sunday Times Rich List

The 2025 Sunday Times Rich List reveals a notable shift in the UK’s wealth landscape. While King Charles III’s personal fortune has increased by £30 million to £640 million, the number of UK billionaires has decreased significantly, dropping from 165 in 2024 to 156 the sharpest decline in the list’s 37-year history.

King Charles’s Financial Ascendancy

King Charles’s wealth growth is attributed to inherited private estates, including Sandringham in Norfolk and Balmoral in Aberdeenshire, as well as a robust investment portfolio passed down from Queen Elizabeth II. This increase places him on equal financial footing with former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty, whose wealth decreased by £11 million over the past year.

Decline in UK Billionaires

The reduction in the number of UK billionaires is influenced by several factors:

Economic Volatility: Stock market fluctuations have impacted asset values.

Tax Policy Changes: The Labour government’s 2024 abolition of the non-domiciled tax status has led some wealthy individuals to relocate.

Global Economic Shifts: Broader economic uncertainties have affected investment portfolios.

Notably, Sir Jim Ratcliffe experienced a significant wealth decrease of £6.4 billion. Conversely, the Coates family of Bet365 saw their fortune increase by £2 billion.

Top of the Rich List

Gopi Hinduja and family maintain their position at the top of the list for the fourth consecutive year, with a fortune of £35.3 billion, despite a £1.89 billion decline.

Emerging Wealth Figures

New entrants and notable figures include:

Dua Lipa: At 29, she becomes the youngest person on the list, with a net worth of £115 million.

Georgia Toffolo and James Watt: Their combined wealth reaches £425 million.

Dmitry and Igor Bukhman: Founders of Playrix, they enter the top 10 with £12.54 billion. The 2025 Sunday Times Rich List highlights a dynamic shift in the UK’s wealth distribution, marked by King Charles’s financial rise and a notable decrease in the number of billionaires. These changes reflect broader economic trends and policy impacts affecting the nation’s affluent individuals.

Written By Fortune Davidson