The richer list Entry level to exclusive club of Ireland’s 300 wealthiest people rockets by €5million in one year
THE amount of money needed to join Ireland’s super rich list has rocketed by €5million in a year.
To be included among the 300 wealthiest people, you’ll need €57million. To join the top 100 richest people it’s €159million.
The wealthiest 300 people in Ireland are now worth a record combined total of €87billion, up 10% from last year’s previous record high of €79billion.
Ireland is now home to one of the highest proportions of billionaires amongst the 4.8million population.
This year’s Sunday Times Rich List found there is now approximately one billionaire here for every 282,000 people – almost twice the amount in countries such as the US, Sweden and Kuwait.
Holding onto the top spot for the 11th year running is former model and retailer Hilary Weston and her children, Alannah and Galen Jnr.
Worth €11.932billion, the family’s businesses include Penneys, Selfridges, Twinings and Ryvita.
Tipperary brothers Patrick and John Collison, who made their fortune with their online payments company Stripe, are second with a €5billion pile.
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Campbell’s soup magnate John Dorrance, who lives in South Dublin, comes in third on the list, having amassed a fortune of €2.6billion.
Golfer Rory Mcilroy is the highest ranked sport star whose personal wealth grew by €32million to €157million.
MMA fighter Conor Mcgregor also increased his personal wealth by €30million to €115million.
Rockers U2 saw their fortune grow by €15million to €662million, thanks in part to their hugely successful Innocence + Experience tour last year.
Lotto winners the Rogers family who scooped a €175million Euromillions jackpot and Frances and Patrick Connolly, from Co Down, who won €131million on the New Year draw are also on the list.
And while many of the country’s fatcats saw their wealth increase, a number saw their fortunes decline.
Digicel boss Denis O’brien saw the biggest downturn to his wealth losing €1.8billion – but he remains at No6 on the list.
Ryanair boss Michael O’leary lost his billionaire status and must now manage with a €865million fortune.