Rich List 2022 Billionaires
Branson, 71, soared more than 50 miles above New Mexico
aboard Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity in July. “Welcome to the
dawn of a new space age,” he bragged — having pipped Jeff
Bezos, the founder of Amazon, who had hoped to be first.
However, repairs and upgrades have put back the first
commercial flights to late this year, and Virgin Galactic’s
share price is down by more than half over the past year. At
least 600 loaded dreamers have booked a $250,000 ride.
Branson sold shares in the venture worth £440 million last
year to help Virgin Atlantic and the gym chain Virgin Active.
He owns 11.9 per cent of Virgin Galactic, worth £283.1 million,
while Virgin Orbit’s satellite launch services had a valuation
of $2.14 billion (£1.59 billion) at its US float last year. Branson
is developing a hotel chain in America and Scotland and his
cruise line Virgin Voyages set sail in October.
Virgin Group’s 13 per cent stake in Virgin Money is part
of a £2.19 billion stock market portfolio and private stakes
add £1.49 billion. He has more than £280 million of property
and a £240 million cash pile. 2021: £3.79bn, 4544 SIR RICHARD BRANSON
AND FAMILY
£4.2bn £410m ▲
Transport, finance and fitness clubs: Virgin41 SRI PRAKASH LOHIA
£4.37bn £413m ▼Textiles and plastics 2021: £4.783bn, 36
42 LORD BAMFORD AND FAMILY
£4.32bn £275m ▼Construction equipment: JCB 2021: £4.595bn, 38
43 JOE LEWIS
£4.285bn £45m ▼
Foreign exchange and investment 2021: £4.33bn, 41
45 ALEXEY KUZMICHEV
£4.15bn £1.307bn ▼
Industry: Alfa Group and LetterOne
Sanctions forced Kuzmichev, 59, to step down from the board of
LetterOne, set up with Mikhail Fridman and German Khan (both qv).
The French government has seized two of Kuzmichev’s yachts: the
72ft Little Bear in Cannes and the 250ft Big Bear in Antibes. The trio
had a $14 billion payday from selling their 25 per cent stake in the
oil company TNK-BP in 2013; Kuzmichev is thought to have reaped
$2.5 billion from the deal. 2021: £5.457bn, 34
46= SIR MICHAEL MORITZ AND HARRIET HEYMAN
£4bn £500m ▲
Internet 2021: £3.5bn, 50=46= TEDDY SAGI
£4bn £162m ▲
Software and property 2021: £3.838bn, 4448 MARK SCHEINBERG
£3.926bn £407m ▲
Gambling: PokerStars 2021: £3.519bn, 4949 BARONESS HOWARD DE WALDEN AND FAMILY
£3.632bn £90m ▼
Property 2021: £3.722bn, 4650 JOHAN ELIASCH
£3.6bn £1.2bn ▲
Sports equipment: Head 2021: £2.4bn, 70=51 EDDIE AND SOL ZAKAY
£3.4bn £100m ▼
Property 2021: £3.5bn, 50=52 GLENN GORDON AND FAMILY
£3.395bn £200m ▼
Spirits: William Grant & Sons 2021: £3.595bn, 4753 JAIME GILINSKI
£3.333bn £579m ▲
Finance 2021: £2.754bn, 5854 MARK PEARS AND FAMILY
£3.312bn £32m ▲
Property 2021: £3.28bn, 5255 VLADIMIR KIM
£3.28bn £1.853bn ▲
Mining: Kaz Minerals 2021: £1.427bn, 11756= LAURENCE AND FRANçOIS GRAFF
£3bn £200m ▼
Diamonds 2021: £3.2bn, 5356= HILTON SCHLOSBERG
£3bn New entry ★
Drinks: Monster BeverageSchlosberg and his business partner Rodney Sacks are behind the
US energy drinks giant Monster Beverage, which makes caffeinated
drinks with ebullient names such as Relentless, Predator and Full
Throttle. South African-born Schlosberg, 69, a British national, has
an 8.7 per cent stake worth nearly £2.8 billion and is chief executive
of the Nasdaq-listed $44.75 billion (£33.15 billion) outfit. Schlosberg
— making this year’s joint highest list debut alongside Daniel
Kretinsky (qv) — has sold stakes worth at least £300 million.59 MIKE ASHLEY
£2.995bn £277m ▲
Sports equipment and fashion 2021: £2.718bn, 6160 JEAN-FRANçOIS DECAUX AND FAMILY
£2.95bn £480m ▲
Media and advertising 2021: £2.47bn, 6861 BENZION FRESHWATER AND FAMILY
£2.908bn £52m ▼
Property 2021: £2.96bn, 55Branson with his wife
of 33 years, Joan. The
Virgin boss is still
reaching for the starsSANCTIONS STRIKE
Entry 45, £4.15bnSLAM DUNK
Entry 59, £2.995bn24 • thesundaytimes.co.uk/richlist