Hinduja family of Indian origin tops UK rich list for fourth year in a row

The Sunday Times Rich List 2025 has named the Hinduja family as the richest family in the United Kingdom for the fourth year in a row. Despite a small drop in their total wealth, the Hinduja family remains on top. Their wealth is now £35.3 billion (about ₹2,53,00,00 crore). The family is known for running the huge Hinduja Group, a big business that started in India but now works around the world. Their group works in many industries, including banking, media, energy, and more. They have around 200,000 workers across the globe.

Even though their wealth has fallen a little from last year’s £37.2 billion, the Hinduja family still holds the highest position on the list. The family is led by Gopi Hinduja, who has played a big role in keeping the family business strong and growing. The Hinduja Group is famous for being involved in many important industries that affect daily life and the global economy.

This year’s Rich List also shows a drop in the total number of billionaires in the UK. There are now 156 billionaires, down from 165 the previous year. This is the third year in a row that the number has gone down. Some people blame this drop on the new Labour government’s policies, which some say may not be good for the rich and business owners.

Other rich families and individuals also appear on the list. For example, Sir James Dyson, the inventor famous for his bagless vacuum cleaner, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who partly owns the famous football club Manchester United, are among the richest people in the UK.

More about the UK’s wealthiest people

The Sunday Times Rich List shows many families and individuals who are very rich. Here are some of the top ones:

• David and Simon Reuben: These two brothers come from Mumbai but now live in the UK. They have made a lot of money by investing in property and technology through their company called Reuben Brothers. Their wealth is about £26.87 billion (₹2,82,13,50 crore).

• Sir Leonard Blavatnik: Born in Ukraine and now a British-American businessman, Blavatnik earned much of his money in Russia. He also helped take Warner Music public in 2020 and is known for donating money to good causes. His wealth is about £25.73 billion (₹2,70,06,50 crore).

• Sir James Dyson and Family: Dyson is the famous inventor behind many household gadgets, including the well-known vacuum cleaner. His company has also worked on beauty technology. Dyson owns a lot of farmland in the UK and has been critical of the country’s tax policies. His net worth is £20.8 billion (₹2,18,40,00 crore).

• Idan Ofer: Ofer is an Israeli businessman with interests in shipping and energy. He also owns almost 30% of the football club Atletico Madrid. His wealth is £20.12 billion (₹2,11,26,00 crore).

• Weston Family: This family is known for their retail investments. They own Associated British Foods, which includes Primark, a popular clothing store. Their wealth has grown by more than £3 billion this year and now stands at £17.75 billion (₹1,86,37,50 crore).

• Sir Jim Ratcliffe: Ratcliffe is the founder of Ineos, a large chemicals company, and part-owner of Manchester United football club. He is involved in the club’s management but has faced criticism over some financial choices. His wealth is £17.05 billion (₹1,78,92,50 crore).

• Lakshmi Mittal and Family: Mittal is a steel tycoon who leads ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steelmaking company. He also owns expensive properties in London and part-owns Queen’s Park Rangers football club. His wealth is £15.44 billion (₹1,62,12,00 crore).

• John Fredriksen and Family: Fredriksen is a shipping magnate from Norway. He owns oil tankers and has investments in fish farming and deepwater oil drilling. His wealth is £13.68 billion (₹1,43,64,00 crore).

• Igor and Dmitry Bukhman: These Russian brothers made their fortune through mobile games like Gardenscapes and Fishdom. They have nearly doubled their wealth this year to £12.54 billion (₹1,31,67,00 crore).

• Kirsten and Jorn Rausing: Kirsten inherited shares in the big packaging company Tetra Laval, and her husband Jorn also works there. Kirsten is known to be active in horse racing. Their combined wealth is £12.51 billion (₹1,31,35,50 crore).

• Michael Platt: Platt co-founded the hedge fund BlueCrest Capital. He made a lot of money by betting on currency and bond markets. His wealth is £12.5 billion (₹1,31,25,00 crore).

• Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken and Michel de Carvalho: Charlene inherited a big part of the famous beer company Heineken, and her husband Michel is on the company’s board. Their wealth is £10.09 billion (₹1,05,88,50 crore).

• Duke of Westminster and the Grosvenor Family: Hugh Grosvenor inherited the large Grosvenor Estate and is the richest person in the UK under the age of 40. He is also the godfather of Prince George. Their wealth is £9.88 billion (₹1,03,74,00 crore).

• Lord Bamford and Family: Bamford runs JCB, a company that makes construction equipment. He also donates to political parties and leads think tanks. Their wealth is £9.45 billion (₹99,22,50 crore).

• Denise, John, and Peter Coates: The Coates family started Bet365, one of the world’s biggest online gambling companies. Their wealth is £9.44 billion (₹99,12,00 crore).

• Carrie and Francois Perrodo and Family: Carrie inherited the oil company Perenco after her husband passed away. Their son Francois is the chairman. Their wealth is £9.3 billion (₹97,65,00 crore).

• Barnaby and Merlin Swire and Family: The Swire family owns the Swire Group, which works in property, transport, and industrial businesses. Their wealth is £9.25 billion (₹97,12,50 crore).

• Marit, Lisbet, Sigrid, and Hans Rausing: This family holds stakes in Tetra Pak, a large packaging company built by the late Hans Rausing. Their wealth is £9.09 billion (₹95,30,00 crore).

• Alex Gerko: Gerko is a mathematician who founded XTX Markets, an algorithmic trading firm. He gave up Russian citizenship recently, and his fortune fell by more than £3 billion this year. His wealth is now £8.75 billion (₹91,87,50 crore).

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Trends and challenges in the rich list

The Sunday Times Rich List is an important annual report that shows who the richest people in the UK are and how much money they have. The list helps us understand the changes in wealth among the richest families and individuals over time.

This year’s list shows some important trends:

1. Fewer Billionaires: The total number of billionaires in the UK has dropped for the third year in a row. This shows that it may be harder to keep or grow extreme wealth in the current economic and political environment. The new Labour government has faced criticism for its policies, which some believe have made business conditions tougher for the rich.

2. Shifts in Wealth: Some families saw their wealth increase, while others saw declines. For example, the Hinduja family’s wealth fell slightly, but they still stayed on top. The Weston family’s wealth grew by over £3 billion. Meanwhile, some others, like Alex Gerko, saw their wealth drop significantly.

3. Diverse Sources of Wealth: The rich in the UK come from many different industries, such as property, steel, shipping, technology, retail, energy, and entertainment. This shows how wealth can be built in many ways.

4. Global Connections: Many of the richest people in the UK have global backgrounds or businesses that operate worldwide. For example, the Hinduja family has roots in India but operates globally. The Reuben brothers also come from Mumbai. Others have ties to Russia, Israel, Norway, and Ukraine.

5. Growing Importance of Tech: Some of the richest people made their fortunes from technology, such as Igor and Dmitry Bukhman, who created popular mobile games. Hedge funds and algorithmic trading firms like those led by Michael Platt and Alex Gerko also highlight the role of modern financial technology.

The Sunday Times Rich List 2025 shows the Hinduja family as the richest family in the UK for the fourth year in a row. Although their wealth fell slightly, they remain at the top because of their wide business empire. The list also shows a decline in the total number of billionaires in the UK, which could be related to new government policies.

Other top billionaires come from many different industries, including steel, shipping, retail, technology, and finance. Many of these billionaires have strong international connections and influence the economy not just in the UK, but globally.

Overall, the Rich List helps us see how wealth is shared and changing among the richest people in the UK. It highlights the ongoing challenges and successes in business, investment, and innovation that shape who leads the economy today.