Sir David Beckham has been named Britain’s first billionaire sports figure in the 2026 Sunday Times Rich List, while the wealth of his former Manchester United club co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has fallen over the past year.
The Rich List figures show Beckham and his wife Victoria crossing the £1 billion threshold this year, with their combined fortune reaching £1.185 billion (about $1.6 billion).
That total placed the couple second among the wealthiest sportspeople in the publication’s rankings, behind the Ecclestone family, with former Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone valued at £2 billion.
Beckham, the former England captain, is a co-owner of Inter Miami, which the list estimates as Major League Soccer’s most valuable club at $1.45 billion (£1.07 billion).
His earnings have also been boosted through major endorsement work as a brand ambassador for global firms including Adidas and Hugo Boss.
Victoria Beckham’s wealth is largely tied to the fashion business launched under her own name, with her rise originally coming from her time as a member of the Spice Girls.
While the Beckhams’ wealth increased during the last 12 months, Ratcliffe—who co-owns Beckham’s former club—slipped down the overall Rich List from seventh to ninth.
The rankings estimate Ratcliffe’s fortune fell by £1.85 billion to £15.194 billion.
The list also marks down the value of Ratcliffe’s petrochemicals group, Ineos, to £17 billion, citing “rising debt, falling revenues and a loss of £515.7 million”.
However, the latest decline is smaller than the year before, when the compilers said his wealth dropped by more than £6 billion.
