Boomtime for billionaires ad rich get richer

Britain’s richest people are wealthier than ever before.

That’s despite the country having just emerged from one of the worst recessions in history.

The top 1,000 wealthiest people are worth £519 billion a quarter higher than the £413 billion set in 2008, before the economic crash.

That means they now own the equivalent of a third of the nation’s gross domestic product.

A minimum of £85 million is needed to even be considered for the Sunday Times Rich List this year compared to £80 million in 2008 and £75m last year.

To get into the top 500, the rich need £190 million double the £80 million required in 2004 and up £30 million from the £160 million cut off point for last year’s list.

Philip Beresford, who has compiled the ranking since 1989, said: “I’ve never seen such a phenomenal rise in personal wealth as the growth in the fortunes of Britain’s 1,000 richest people over the past year.

“The richest people in Britain have had an astonishing year.

“While some may criticise them, many of these people are at the heart of the economy and their success brings more jobs and more wealth for the country.”

Most distinguished among the old money names, the Queen had a sterling year as she added £10 million to her personal fortune and is now ranked 285 with £330 million.

Well-established Rich List millionaires such as Jamie and wife Jools Oliver saw their worth go up by £90 million to £240 million, ranking them at 396.

Former Tesco boss Sir Terry Leahy was among the new entrants with a worth of £100 million, ranking at 863.

The digital economy also featured heavily as four members of King Digital Entertainment, which is behind the addictive Candy Crash game, joined the list.

The masterminds behind best-seller computer game Grand Theft Auto, Rockstar Games supremos and brothers Sam and Dan Houser, were new entries at 947 with a joint fortune of £90 million.

Meanwhile, American film producer Harvey Weinstein and his British former model turned designer wife Georgina Chapman also made the grade for the first time with a joint fortune of £115 million, ranked 788.

Entertainers featured heavily in the 50 Young Rich list for those aged 30 and under.

Former Harry Potter star Emma Watson, 24, is now estimated to be worth £30 million, up £3 million on last year.

Husband and wife Marcus Mumford 27, and Carey Mulligan, 28, joined the young list for the first time with a joint fortune of £13 million from their music and films.

Last week it was announced the list’s compilers had found the number of billionaires living in Britain has risen to more than 100 for the first time.

Some 104 billionaires are now based in the UK more than triple the number from a decade ago with a combined wealth of more than £301 billion.

It means Britain has more billionaires per head of population than any other country.