The UK is home to 171 billionaires in 2021, 24 more than in 2020 and a record.

This is according to The Sunday Times’ Rich List 2021. The jump of 24 billionaires in the UK is the biggest in the 33 years the newspaper has been tracking the wealthy.

Furthermore, the combined fortunes of the billionaires in The Rich List grew by around 22% to total £597.269bn ($845bn). In 2020, it totalled £490.7bn, falling from the £524.8bn recorded in 2019.

In terms of primary sources of wealth in the Sunday Times Rich List, 22 were from finance and 12 were from hedge funds. These were second and third place, respectively, to property with 39.

According to The Sunday Times: “A global pandemic created golden opportunities for internet fashion retailers, computer games tycoons and a wave of other technology entrepreneurs who delivered their products to us direct and helped make lockdown life more bearable. This year’s Rich List also includes a burgeoning pack of unicorns: start-ups providing online payments, virtual meetings and other high-tech services that are all worth at least $1bn.”

UK finance billionaires in 2021

Prominent names from the financial sector are on the list, as to be expected. Sri and Gopi Hinduja placed 3rd overall with Hinduja Group and Hinduja Bank. Over the year, their wealth increased by £1bn to reach £17bn.

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In addition, Leonie Schroder, from the famous Schroder family, placed in 35th. She took he father’s place on the board of Schroders after his passing in 2019.

Both Peter Hargreaves and Steve Lansdown or Hargreaves Lansdown are on the list, at 69th and 124th respectively.

Mark Coombs, CEO of the Ashmore Group, places at 102nd while Adam Fleming, chairman of Stonehage Fleming, was 106th.

Top of the list was Leonard Blavatnik with a £23bn fortune, up more than £7bn in a year, and the second time he has led the list, the last time being in 2015.