Queen elbowed out of super-rich league by rise of the billionaires

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.

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.

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 l i st 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 i ncreased by £140million to £1.04billion .

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.

George Clooney is a new entry