Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s fortune has fallen by £1.85billion over the past year, according to the newest Sunday Times Rich List. However, the Manchester United co-owner remains comfortably the wealthiest individual in the North West for another consecutive year, with an estimated net worth of £15.194bn, down from £17.04bn in 2025.
The 73-year-old businessman, who secured a 27.7 per cent stake in United in a £1.25bn agreement in 2024 after reaching terms with majority owners the Glazer family, built his wealth through the creation of petrochemicals giant INEOS in 1998.
As a chemicals industry figurehead and CEO of INEOS, Ratcliffe runs a global petrochemicals operation spanning 27 countries. However, due to increasing debt levels, weaker revenues and a £515.7million loss, the group’s valuation has been reduced to £17bn.
His 29 per cent holding in Manchester United is currently valued at £1.4bn. This follows comments last week in which the 73-year-old cautioned the UK and Europe about their energy policy direction, delivered during an announcement tied to new investment in the United States.
FOLLOW OUR MAN UTD FB PAGE! Latest United news and more on our dedicated Facebook page
INEOS confirmed it had finalised a deal securing a 21 per cent stake in three oil and gas fields off the east coast of America. The investment builds on more than €3bn (£2.61bn) already committed to US operations.
Last year’s Rich List showed Sir Jim’s fortune had fallen by £6.5bn, yet he still ranked as the wealthiest person in the North West and the seventh richest individual in the UK in 2025.
The Sunday Times has now published its annual Rich List. This year’s ranking of 350 individuals and families collectively holds £783.5bn in wealth, equal to roughly a quarter of the UK’s annual GDP.
Sir Elton John, Lord Lloyd-Webber, Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, JK Rowling, Charlotte Tilbury and Sir Lewis Hamilton all feature in the annual listing, alongside the Gallagher brothers for the first time, with a valuation of £375m.
View 3 ImagesDespite nearly £2billion being shaved off Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s net worth in the past year, he remains the richest man in the north east(Image: Getty Images)
The entry threshold for this year’s list fell to £340m, which The Sunday Times describes as “another indicator of a subdued year.”
Robert Watts, compiler of the Sunday Times Rich List, said: “This year’s Rich List is a tale of two exoduses. One in six of the individuals and families who appeared on the list two years ago don’t feature this time.
“Many foreign billionaires who have been living in the UK have also dropped out because they have moved away. We have also seen a sharp rise in the number of British nationals now resident in Dubai, Switzerland and Monaco. As UK nationals these people remain on our Rich List – wherever they now live.
“These two exoduses pose challenges for the UK economy and its public finances. Will more of the wealthy now set up or grow their ventures overseas and in doing so create fewer jobs here? How much tax – if any – will Rachel Reeves‘ Treasury be able to extract from those affluent Brits who have now left the country?
View 3 ImagesRatcliffe’s Man Utd are flying high at the moment(Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
“For nearly 40 years the Sunday Times Rich List has analysed the fortunes of Britain’s most affluent people. We believe understanding where wealth lies and where it is being accumulated is a vital part of a functioning democracy.
“Over the years our research has told us a lot about our country, charting the way a generation of largely self-made entrepreneurs overtook the old money of the landed gentry.
“This year’s edition shines a light on fortunes made from artificial intelligence, driverless cars and crypto-currencies as well as baby milk, make-up, hoodies and other everyday items. We know many of our readers find those rags-to-riches stories of entrepreneurs who started out with little more than a laptop and an idea particularly inspiring.”
Article continues below
Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL packageThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
£43£35SkyGet the deal here
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.