The Sunday Times Rich List for 2026 has been released, revealing that Sir James Dyson and his family are once again the wealthiest individuals in the West of England. The British inventor and tech tycoon retains the top spot for the South West region, despite a 13.5 per cent decline in revenues at Dyson's consumer electricals group over the past two years, partly attributed to tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.
Sir James, who acquired a 50 per cent stake in Bath Rugby Group earlier this year, is renowned for inventing the first bagless vacuum cleaner in 1979 and building his company into one of the world's largest household goods manufacturers. However, his wealth has decreased by £8.8 billion over the past 12 months, from £20.8 billion in 2025 to £12 billion. The company employs thousands at its base near Malmesbury, Wiltshire, although it is now headquartered in Singapore.
Other Notable Entries in the South West
Plymouth retail mogul Chris Dawson and his wife Sarah were ranked as the second-richest in the region. The couple, who own The Range, saw their wealth increase by £50 million to £2.65 billion. Peter Hargreaves, co-founder of Bristol-based investment firm Hargreaves Lansdown, saw his wealth rise to £2.325 billion.
This year's list of 350 individuals and families holds a combined wealth of £783.5 billion, which is larger than the annual GDP of Belgium ($776 billion), Sweden ($760 billion), and Israel ($719 billion), according to the Sunday Times. This sum represents about a quarter of the United Kingdom's total annual GDP.
National Rankings and Trends
The national rankings are topped by investors Sanjay and Dheeraj Hinduja and family (£38 billion), followed by Newcastle United minority owners David and Simon Reuben (£28 billion), and DAZN majority owner Sir Leonard Blavatnik (£26.8 billion). The minimum entry level for the list has dropped to £340 million, indicating a subdued economic year.
Robert Watts, compiler of the Sunday Times Rich List, commented: "This year's Rich List is a tale of two exoduses. One in six of the individuals and families who appeared on the list two years ago don't feature this time. Many foreign billionaires who have been living in the UK have also dropped out because they have moved away. We have also seen a sharp rise in the number of British nationals now resident in Dubai, Switzerland and Monaco. As UK nationals these people remain on our Rich List — wherever they now live."
Watts added: "These two exoduses pose challenges for the UK economy and its public finances. Will more of the wealthy now set up or grow their ventures overseas and in doing so create fewer jobs here? How much tax - if any - will Rachel Reeves's Treasury be able to extract from those affluent Brits who have now left the country?"
He also noted: "This year's edition shines a light on fortunes made from artificial intelligence, driverless cars and crypto-currencies as well as baby milk, make-up, hoodies and other everyday items."
The 10 Wealthiest in the South West
- Sir James Dyson and family — £12 billion
- Chris and Sarah Dawson — £2.65 billion
- Peter Hargreaves — £2.325 billion
- Douglas and Dame Mary Perkins and family — £1.409 billion
- Steve Lansdown — £1.25 billion
- Lord Vestey and family — £739 million
- James Benamor — £683 million
- Nigel Spokes and family — £663 million
- Andrew Nisbet and family — £572 million
- Julian Dunkerton and Jade Holland Cooper — £518 million
Famous names such as Sir Elton John, Lord Lloyd-Webber, Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, JK Rowling, Charlotte Tilbury, and Sir Lewis Hamilton also appear in the annual survey.
