Superstar David Beckham has achieved the milestone of becoming the first billionaire athlete in Britain, with his wealth doubling in the past year. According to the latest Sunday Times Rich List, David and his wife Victoria now possess a fortune nearing £1.2 billion, a significant increase from £500 million just a year ago.
The Beckham’s wealth surpasses that of King Charles III, whose personal fortune has risen to £680 million due to investment value appreciation. While David Beckham has numerous sponsorship deals, the primary driver of his wealth surge is his investments in property and ownership in the Major Soccer League club Inter Miami.
Beckham, who recently turned 51, made a substantial investment of £16 million in Inter Miami, which became the MLS’s 25th club in 2018. The club boasts players like Lionel Messi and has proven to be a lucrative venture for Beckham, with his stake now estimated at £300 million, in addition to his ownership in the upcoming Freedom Park complex near the club’s new stadium valued at £400 million.
The Sunday Times Rich List compiler, Robert Watts, humorously remarked, “I wouldn’t want to play David Beckham at Monopoly.” The Beckhams have climbed from 273rd to 141st on this year’s list, with their wealth including properties like a £50 million London home and a £20 million estate in the Cotswolds.
The latest Rich List also showcases other prominent figures from various sectors, with the combined wealth of the UK’s top 350 individuals and families rising to £784 billion, exceeding the annual economies of countries like Belgium, Sweden, and Israel. Noteworthy placements include the Gallagher brothers of Oasis, worth £375 million, and music icon Sir Elton John with a fortune of £480 million.
The TUC’s research revealed a significant increase in the number of billionaires since 2010, while real wages for the average worker have remained stagnant. TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak emphasized the need for a fairer economic system that values work over wealth and called for billionaires to contribute their fair share in taxes to support households and businesses.
