Who’s in the money? Regional rich list revealed
THE personal wealth of the entrepreneurs behind North West discount retailers Home Bargains and B&M, has rocketed by more than £500m in the last year.
According to The Sunday Times Rich List 2015, the Morris family, founders of Home Bargains, is now worth £2.25bn (up £200m), while the Arora brothers, Simon, Bobby and Robin, who built up B&M, are £350m richer with a family fortune of £1.75bn.
Joining the region’s exclusive billionaire club for the first time are Fred and Peter Done, whose business empire spans betting shops, health and safety advice and property development. The Dones’ worth is estimated by the newspaper’s researchers to have increased £50m in the last 12 months to £1bn.
Topping the regional rich list – and taking ninth spot overall – is The Duke of Westminster, whose Grosvenor Estate is headquartered at the family seat, Eaton Hall in Cheshire.
The 63-year-old Duke’s overall wealth rises £60m this year to stand at £8.56bn.
John Whittaker, the Bury-born property magnate and his family are second in the regional rankings, and are worth £2.37bn – up £70m in the last year, and occupying 43rd spot.
After the discount retailers (Morris 3rd) and Aroras (4th), Lord Grantchester and the Moores family, are placed firth, with a fortune of £1.2bn.
In joint sixth place with the Dones, is the Hargreaves family (owners of Matalan), who are also worth £1bn.
The 2015 Sunday Times Rich List – the definitive guide to wealth in Britain and Ireland – has been published today.
While an improving economy has seen wealth increasing for the North West top 20, the Sheppard family, owners of Warrington metals recycling group EMR, and Lord Alliance, the retired textile and retail tycoon, have seen their fortunes fall by £200m and £118m respectively.
Other members of the top 20 include: Emerson Group owner Peter Jones and family (£730m); valve inventor and manufacturing company owner Michael Oliver (£724m); Lancashire’s Trevor Hemmings the owner of the Grand National winning horse Many Clouds (£675m); Henry Moser, the founder of lender Blemain, (£600m); the Oglesby family, owners of Bruntwood (£410m); the Warburtons (£530m) and Bibby family (£400m).
