One in six drop out of the West Midlands Rich List compared to 2024
The 2026 Rich List includes 350 individuals and families with a combined wealth of £783.5 billion
Lord Bamford and his family have topped The Sunday Times Rich List in the West Midlands with an estimated wealth of £10.318 billion.
The chairman of JCB has been granted planning permission to construct an observatory at his Cotswolds estate to promote rural crafts and regenerative farming.
Lord Bamford, a Tory peer and political donor, has recently retired from the House of Lords.
The 2026 Rich List, published online today, includes 350 individuals and families with a combined wealth of £783.5 billion, which is higher than the annual GDP of Belgium, Sweden, and Israel.
One in six drop off this year’s list
The minimum entry level for this year’s list has dipped to £340 million, suggesting a subdued year for wealthy individuals according to Robert Watts, the list compiler.
Watts mentioned, “This year’s Rich List is a tale of two exoduses. One in six of the individuals and families who appeared on the list two years ago don’t feature this time.”
Many foreign billionaires who reside in the UK have left, impacting the list, while there’s been a rise in British nationals relocating to destinations like Dubai, Switzerland, and Monaco.
Impact on UK economy and public finances
The departures of affluent individuals raise concerns about the UK's economy and public finances.
Watts questioned, “Will more of the wealthy now set up or grow their ventures overseas and in doing so create fewer jobs here? How much tax — if any — will Rachel Reeves’s Treasury be able to extract from those affluent Brits who have now left the country?”
Understanding where wealth lies and how it's accumulated is crucial for a functioning democracy, said Watts, as the list continues to analyse the fortunes of Britain’s most affluent people.
Accompanying this year's Rich List are stories of fortunes made from artificial intelligence, driverless cars, and cryptocurrencies, as well as billionaires who have amassed wealth from everyday items like baby milk, make-up, and hoodies.