Dyson bucks bad year for billionaires to top rich list

INVENTOR Sir James Dyson is the richest person in the United Kingdom for the first time, according to the Sunday Times Rich List.

The Brexit-backing entrepreneur saw his wealth grow by £3.6billion over the past year, climbing to £16.2billion.

He leaps from fifth pace last year above Sri and Gopi Hinduja and family.

In February, it was expected the number of billionaires would rise to nearly 160, but it fell by four to 147 as the pandemic took hold, the Sunday

Times said.

A record 25 female billionaires make the list, which also shows the overall wealth of the 1,000 richest people in the UK is down by £29billion on last year. Robert Watts, the list compiler, said: “Ever since the financial crisis of 2008-9, Britain’s wealthiest people have become richer and richer.

“Covid-19 has called time on their golden period.

“This year’s rich list paints a picture of Britain on the brink of calamity – two months after lockdown and already billions of pounds have been wiped out.

“You may not like the super-rich, but it is hard to deny that our economy will need the jobs they create and the taxes they and their companies pay if we are to escape a prolonged recession that causes further misery to millions.”

Denise Coates, the Bet365 tycoon, was named as Britain’s richest selfmade woman, worth £7.2billion.