The Sunday Times Rich List 2026 has unveiled the wealthiest people in Wales, featuring a venture capitalist, a tech entrepreneur, and the founders of a global opticians chain. These individuals and families collectively hold assets worth over £13bn, according to the annual ranking published on May 15, 2026.
Top 10 Wealthiest in Wales
The list, which ranks the 350 richest people in the UK, shows that the top three positions remain unchanged for the fourth consecutive year. The combined wealth of all individuals and families on the list totals £783.5bn, surpassing the GDP of Belgium, Sweden, and Israel.
1. Sir Michael Moritz and Harriet Heyman
Wealth: £5.481bn
Source: Venture capital and philanthropy
Cardiff-born Sir Michael Moritz, 71, made early investments in Google, PayPal, WhatsApp, and YouTube through Sequoia Capital. He and his wife, author Harriet Heyman, run the Crankstart foundation, supporting low-income students. His wealth increased by over £1bn this year.
2. Simon Nixon
Wealth: £2.05bn
Source: MoneySuperMarket
Simon Nixon, 58, co-founded the price comparison website in 1993. He now invests in Monzo and rents luxury homes through Simon Escapes. Born in Lincolnshire, he grew up in Flintshire.
3. Sir Douglas and Dame Mary Perkins and family
Wealth: £1.409bn
Source: Specsavers
The couple, aged 83 and 82, started the opticians chain from their spare bedroom in Llanelli. Their business model transformed eye care into a retail experience, now a global brand.
4. Sir Terry Matthews
Wealth: £1.33bn
Source: Telecoms
Raised in Newbridge, Sir Terry Matthews founded Mitel in Canada and owns the Celtic Manor Resort. He was Wales' first billionaire.
5. David Sullivan and family
Wealth: £1.1bn
Source: Publishing
Born in Cardiff, Sullivan built a fortune from adult magazines and sex shops. He co-owns West Ham United FC and has property investments through Conegate.
6= Henry Engelhardt and Diane Briere de L'Isle
Wealth: £935m
Source: Admiral Insurance
The Chicago-born entrepreneur moved to Cardiff to found Admiral, reshaping UK car insurance. He stepped back in 2016.
6= Steve Morgan
Wealth: £935m
Source: Redrow
Steve Morgan founded the housebuilder at age 21. He has donated over £300m to his foundation, supporting 650 charities. He holds an OBE and CBE.
8. Dai and Richard Walters
Wealth: £441m
Source: Construction
Dai Walters started as a labourer and built the Walters Group, now involved in major civil engineering projects. His son Richard formerly ran Celtic Energy.
9. Sir Malcolm and Lord Walker
Wealth: £424m
Source: Iceland supermarkets
Sir Malcolm founded Iceland in 1970. His son Lord Richard joined as a shelf-stacker and became executive chairman in 2023. They live in Flintshire.
10. David and Heather Stevens
Wealth: £340m
Source: Admiral Insurance
The couple were part of the team that launched Admiral in Cardiff in 1993.
The list also notes that only one Welsh person under 40 made the cut: Alex Lovén, founder of Net World Sports, with £263m. The minimum entry threshold fell to £340m, reflecting a subdued economic year.
