Multiple UK billionaires and millionaires have their origins in Birmingham and the West Midlands. Some are continuing a legacy while others are new entrepreneurs - who made it big. Here a look at the wealthiest 1% of the West Midlands in 2023, according to the new Sunday Times Rich List.
This year’s listing shows that from gambling to retail to IT to property development - the richest people from our region come from varied backgrounds. The highest ranking of any local billionaire on the national listing is at number 16 - so none of the richest in Birmingham and the West Midlands made it into the UK top 10.
The people topping the Sunday Times Rich List 2023 for the whole of the UK are Gopi Hinduja and family who have a net worth of £35bn. Indian-born Gopi is at the head of the family conglomerate with businesses spanning manufacturing, finance, energy and IT. They topped the list in 2022 as well and are based in London.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is the second richest in the UK with a net worth of £29.688 bn. Raised on a council-estate in Manchester, this self-made billionaire owns is the chairman and chief executive officer of the INEOS chemicals group. He owns several properties including a sprawling estate in Hampshire’s New Forest National Park and in Monaco.
Here are the 11 richest people in Birmingham and the West Midlands, according to the Sunday Times:
5. Tony Murray and family (Overall rank 65)
The French-born British billionaire and his family own Andrew Sykes Group which is a heating and air-conditioning equipment hire company headquartered in Wolverhampton. They also own London Security, the Leeds-based fire protection business. They are worth £2.732bn in 2023. Tony Murray might be the oldest billionaire in the list. | Google Maps
6. John Caudwell (overall rank 117)
Founder of now defunct phone retailer Phones4U, John Caudwell is worth £1.568bn in 2023. He also invests in fashion, real estate and other industries, and chairs Caudwell Children, a children’s charity, and Caudwell LymeCo. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images for Happy Hearts Fund) | getty images
7. Sir Tony Gallagher (overall rank 139)
Sir Tony Gallagher is a developer who founded Gallagher Estates and Gallagher Developments. He was worth £1.275bn in 2023. He went up from 140 to 139 in the rich list rankings. (Photo - Google Maps) | Google Maps
8. Caspar MacDonald-Hall and family (overall rank 153)
Caspar MacDonald-Hall, the founder of London and Cambridge Properties, is also a developer and he was worth £954m in 2022. In 2023, his worth increased to £1.171bn. His real estate company owns man properties across Birmingham including the Chelmsley Wood Shopping Centre. (Photo - Google Street View) | Google Street View