London, UK (BBN) – The number of billionaires living in the UK has risen to more than 100 for the first time, according to the 2014 Sunday Times Rich List.
There are now 104 billionaires based in the UK with a combined wealth of more than £301bn, the list says, according to the BBC report.
That means the UK has more billionaires per head of population than any other country.
London has more billionaires than any other city in the world with 72 – far ahead of nearest rival Moscow with 48.
The Indian-born brothers Sri and Gopie Hinduja – who run the conglomerate Hinduja Group – top the list with a fortune of £11.9bn.
Arsenal shareholder and Russian business magnate Alisher Usmanov fell to second after his estimated fortune dropped to £10.65bn.
The Duke of Westminster is the richest Briton with around £8.5bn, leaving him 10th.
Rising fortunes
The number of billionaires living in the UK has jumped from 88 in 2013, according to the Sunday Times.
Their combined wealth has also reportedly shot up from £245bn last year.
It is the first time since 2008 that the minimum wealth of the 50 richest people in the UK has exceeded £1.5bn.
A fortune of £1.7bn is now required to make the top 50 – up from £700m 10 years ago.
New members of the list include West End producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh, who is now worth £1bn, and Jon Hunt, the founder of estate agents Foxtons who is worth £1.07bn.
The wealthiest new entry is Carrie and Francois Perenco and their family, who own the London-based Perenco oil and gas operation and are worth an estimated £6.14bn.
Other notable figures on the list include Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich (£8.52bn), Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley (£3.75bn) and Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson (£3.6bn).
The full Sunday Times Rich List is published on 18 May.
Top 25
1. Sri and Gopi Hinduja, £11.9bn, up £1.3bn
2. Alisher Usmanov, £10.65bn, down £2.65bn
3. Lakshmi Mittal and family, £10.25bn, up £250m
4. Len Blavatnik, £10bn, down £1bn
5. Ernesto and Kirsty Bertarelli, £9.75bn, up £2.35bn
6. John Fredriksen and family, £9.25bn, up £450m
7. David and Simon Reuben, £9bn, up £719m
8. Kirsten and Jorn Rausing, £8.8bn, up £3.69bn
9. Roman Abramovich, £8.52bn, down £780m
10. The Duke of Westminster, £8.5bn, up £700m
11. Galen, Hilary and George Weston and family, £7.3bn, up £650m
12. Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken and Michel de Carvalho, £6.36bn, down £635m
13. Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber and family, £6.16bn, up £1.65bn
14. Carrie and Francois Perrodo and family, £6.14bn, new
15. German Khan, £6.08bn, new
16. Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay, £6bn, up £3.65bn
17. Hans Rausing and family £5.9bn, up £1.18bn
18. Nicky Oppenheimer and family, £4.57bn, up £785m
19. Earl Cadogan and family, £4.2bn, up £525m
20. Joseph Lau and family, £4.03bn, down £570m
21. Sir Philip and Lady Green £3.88bn, no change
22. Denis O'Brien, £3.85bn, up £486m
23. Mike Ashley, £3.75bn, up £1.45bn
24. Sir Richard Branson and family, £3.6bn, up £86m
25. Idan Ofer, £3.43bn, new
