Minting Billions: Inside the Sunday Times British Sports Rich List
The athletic elite aren’t just breaking records anymore—they are breaking the bank. The latest Sunday Times Rich List has officially dropped, revealing a historic milestone for British sport.
While the list proves that prodigious talent on the pitch, court, or track pays well, it’s the business acumen off it that transforms wealthy athletes into absolute tycoons. From heavyweight punchers to F1 royalty, here is how Britain’s top sporting earners make and splash their staggering fortunes.
10 (tied). Sir Andy Murray — £110m
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How he made it: The three-time Grand Slam champion and double Olympic gold medalist racked up serious prize money during tennis’s golden era. Off the court, his astute investments in tech startups and luxury hotel branding (like the Cromlix in Scotland) keep his coffers full.
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How he spends it: Murray is notoriously low-key, but he has invested heavily in a massive British property portfolio and his own sports management agency, 77 Sports Management.
10 (tied). Harry Kane — £110m
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How he made it: Massive wages from Tottenham and his blockbuster move to Bayern Munich lay the groundwork. However, his lifetime global deal to be the face of Skechers’ football boots has propelled him into the financial stratosphere.
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How he spends it: Kane reportedly lives in a stunning £30 million mansion in “the Beverly Hills of Bavaria” and is a major investor in real estate.
9. Tyson Fury — £162m
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How he made it: Making his sensational debut on the Rich List, “The Gypsy King” has commanded some of the most lucrative pay-per-view purses in boxing history, most notably from his legendary trilogy with Deontay Wilder.
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How he spends it: Known for his eccentric taste, Fury alternates between high-end designer gear and flashing luxury sports cars (like his custom Rolls-Royce) and maintaining a massive family home in Morecambe.
8. Anthony Joshua — £240m
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How he made it: Heavyweight boxing’s most marketable asset. “AJ” doesn’t just fight for purses; he treats his career like a corporate entity, boasting high-profile endorsements with Under Armour, Hugo Boss, and Lucozade.
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How he spends it: Joshua owns a £100 million property portfolio. While he loves a private jet for vacations, he is also heavily involved in local community charity work in London.
7. Rory McIlroy — £325m
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How he made it: Golf’s ultimate prize-money machine. Back-to-back Masters glory cemented his legendary status, but his massive Nike partnership and his tech-focused investment firm, Symphony Ventures, have kept his net worth soaring.
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How he spends it: McIlroy owns a jaw-dropping £10 million mansion in Jupiter, Florida, complete with its own recording studio, and is a big collector of luxury watches.
6. Sir Lewis Hamilton — £435m
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How he made it: The seven-time Formula One World Champion is one of the most globally recognizable athletes alive. His Mercedes contracts have been historic, paired with immense global deals with Tommy Hilfiger, Monster Energy, and Puma.
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How he spends it: Hamilton lives a lavish, high-fashion lifestyle with a collection of hypercars (including a Pagani Zonda), homes in Monaco, New York, and London, and a massive investment in vegan hospitality and sustainable tech.
5. Ben Francis — £800m
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How he made it: He didn’t win trophies on a pitch, but he conquered the sports world nonetheless. Francis founded Gymshark from his parents’ garage, learning to sew hoodies from his grandmother. It is now a global athleisure empire.
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How he spends it: Francis stays close to his roots in the Midlands but enjoys the fruits of his labor via a stunning Cotswolds estate and high-end sports cars.
4. Barry and Eddie Hearn — £1.035bn
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How they made it: The ultimate father-son promotion duo. Through Matchroom Sport, they have monopolized darts, snooker, and British boxing, negotiating massive broadcast deals with networks like DAZN.
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How they spends it: The Hearns love the high life—think bespoke Savile Row suits, luxury holiday homes, and a permanent ringside seat to the biggest events on earth.
3. Sir David and Victoria Beckham — £1.185bn
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How they made it: History has been made! “Brand Beckham” has officially crossed the billion-pound threshold, making David Britain’s first-ever billionaire sportsman. While Victoria’s fashion empire thrives, David’s stake in MLS side Inter Miami—which skyrocketed after signing Lionel Messi—sent their net worth into outer space.
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How they spend it: From a £31 million London townhouse to a sprawling Cotswolds mansion and a superyacht named Seven, the Beckhams are the blueprint for sporting luxury.
2. Bernie Ecclestone and Family — £2bn
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How they made it: The ultimate sporting dealmaker. A decade on from selling Formula One to Liberty Media, the 95-year-old magnate still sits comfortably above the Beckhams. He transformed F1 from a niche racing club into a multi-billion-dollar global television juggernaut.
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How he spends it: The Ecclestone empire includes luxury chalets in Gstaad, Switzerland, private superyachts, a private jet, and vast swathes of real estate around the globe.
The Takeaway: Talent can get you a contract, but it takes serious business brains to build an empire. Whether it’s selling hoodies, buying football clubs, or promoting fights, Britain’s sports stars have proven that the real winning happens long after the final whistle blows.
