Former Manchester United and England star David Beckham has become Britain’s first billionaire sportsman, according to the 2026 Sunday Times Rich List. <\/p>\n
Beckham and his wife Victoria’s collective wealth reached an estimated \u00a31.185 billion ($1.583 billion) this year, the Rich List compilers said. <\/p>\n
That moved them into second place in the list of the UK’s wealthiest sportspeople, behind the family of ex-Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, whose wealth was valued at \u00a32 billion. <\/p>\n
Beckham, who retired from playing in 2013, is a co-owner of Inter Miami, estimated to be Major League Soccer’s most valuable club at \u00a31.07 billion. <\/p>\n
The 51-year-old also has lucrative brand ambassador roles for companies including Adidas and Hugo Boss. <\/p>\n
Beckham captained England and won the Premier League and Champions League during a glittering career with United, before spells at Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain. <\/p>\n
Victoria Beckham’s wealth has largely been generated from her fashion label after she originally found fame as a member of pop band The Spice Girls. <\/p>\n
Joining Beckham on the Rich List, seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton is fifth on the list, having built a fortune the Rich List calculated at \u00a3435 million. <\/p>\n
Reigning Masters golf champion Rory McIlroy is seventh with a \u00a3325 million valuation. <\/p>\n
Boxer Anthony Joshua is placed at eighth with a fortune of \u00a3240 million, one place above his heavyweight rival Tyson Fury, who is ninth on \u00a3162 million. <\/p>\n
Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane and retired former Wimbledon champion Andy Murray are joint 10th with \u00a3110 million each. <\/p>\n
Among business people with sporting associations, Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe has dropped down the overall Rich List. <\/p>\n
His fortune shrank by \u00a31.85 billion, according to the list compilers, to \u00a315.194 billion. <\/p>\n
The list compilers lowered the value of Ratcliffe’s petrochemicals company INEOS to \u00a317 billion owing to “rising debt, falling revenues and a loss of \u00a3515.7 million”. <\/p>\n
Promoters Barry and Eddie Hearn have joined Britain’s billionaire club, with their combined wealth estimated at \u00a31.035 billion. <\/p>\n
Barry is the founder and president of Matchroom Sport, one of the leading promoters in boxing, darts and snooker, while his son Eddie is chairman of the organization. <\/p>\n