Amidst an economic downturn in the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty have witnessed a remarkable increase in their fortune, vaulting them to the second position on the Sunday Times Rich List with a combined net worth of 68.89 billion pounds. This represents a staggering surge of approximately 12.911 billion pounds over the past year. The meteoric rise in Sunak and Murty’s wealth is largely attributed to Murty’s substantial ownership stake in Infosys, an Indian IT giant co-founded by her father, Narayana Murthy. Over the past year, Murty’s shares in Infosys have experienced an impressive increase in value, soaring from 590 million pounds to nearly 590 million pounds.
However, it’s important to note that the couple’s current wealth still falls short of its peak in 2022, when it reached an estimated 730 million pounds. Notably, King Charles III has also experienced an increase in his fortune, climbing to 610 million pounds from 600 million pounds over the past year.
In contrast to Sunak and Murty’s financial success, the overall landscape for British billionaires has seen a decline for the third consecutive year, dropping from a peak of 177 in 2022 to 165 in the current year. This decline can be attributed to various factors, such as individuals experiencing a contraction in their private wealth due to high borrowing rates and some choosing to relocate from the country.
According to the latest data, the combined wealth of Britain’s 350 wealthiest individuals and families stands at a staggering 795.36 billion pounds. Topping the list once again are Gopi Hinduja and his family, who oversee the renowned Indian conglomerate Hinduja Group. Their wealth has ascended to 37.2 billion pounds from 35 billion pounds in the previous year.
However, not all prominent billionaires have experienced growth in their fortunes. For instance, Sir Richard Branson’s fortunes dwindled to 2.4 billion pounds from 4.2 billion pounds, owing to challenges faced by his company, Virgin Galactic, throughout the year.
