Former Manchester United star David Beckham has become Britain’s first billionaire sportsman, according to the 2026 Sunday Times Rich List. The wealth of Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe declined over the past year.
The combined wealth of Beckham and his wife, Victoria Beckham, rose to 1.185 billion pounds ($1.6 billion), the list compilers said, placing them second among the wealthiest figures in British sport. They ranked behind the family of former Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, whose fortune was estimated at 2 billion pounds.
Beckham, a former England captain and co-owner of Inter Miami CF, has expanded his wealth through commercial partnerships with brands including Adidas and Hugo Boss.
Victoria Beckham’s earnings stem largely from the fashion label bearing her name, after first achieving fame as a member of the Spice Girls.
Ratcliffe, whose petrochemicals group Ineos co-owns Manchester United, fell from seventh to ninth place on the overall Rich List after his wealth declined by 1.85 billion pounds to 15.194 billion pounds. The compilers said they reduced Ineos’ valuation to 17 billion pounds due to rising debt, falling revenues and a loss of 515.7 million pounds.
Promoters Barry Hearn and Eddie Hearn also featured prominently, with a combined fortune estimated at 1.035 billion pounds.
Eddie Hearn promotes British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua, who ranked eighth on the sports rich list with wealth of 240 million pounds, ahead of fellow heavyweight Tyson Fury on 162 million pounds.
Hearn said last month that Joshua had signed a deal to fight Fury, although no date or venue has been announced.
Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton ranked fifth with 435 million pounds, while golfer Rory McIlroy was seventh on 325 million pounds.
England captain Harry Kane and former Wimbledon champion Andy Murray were joint 10th with fortunes estimated at 110 million pounds each.