Former Manchester United and England star David Beckham has become the first billionaire athlete in the United Kingdom, according to the Sunday Times Rich List 2026. Now 51, Beckham and his wife, singer and fashion designer Victoria Beckham, own an estimated fortune of £1.185 billion (approximately $1.583 billion).
This sum places the Beckhams second on the list of the wealthiest individuals in British sports, behind only the family of former Formula One CEO Bernie Ecclestone, who hold a fortune of £2 billion ($2.7 billion).
Since retiring from playing in 2013, Beckham is now co-owner of Inter Miami, the club valued as the most valuable in Major League Soccer (MLS) at £1.07 billion ($1.4 billion). He also maintains lucrative brand ambassador deals with Adidas and Hugo Boss.
During his illustrious playing career, Beckham captained England, won the Premier League and Champions League with Manchester United, and later played for Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.
Victoria Beckham built much of her wealth through her own fashion label, after gaining fame as a member of the Spice Girls.
Beyond Beckham, the list features several other notable sports figures. Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton ranks fifth with £435 million ($582 million). Masters-winning golfer Rory McIlroy is seventh with £325 million ($435 million). Boxer Anthony Joshua is eighth with £240 million ($321 million), trailing heavyweight rival Tyson Fury in ninth with £162 million ($217 million). Striker Harry Kane (Bayern Munich and England) and former Wimbledon champion Andy Murray tie for tenth with £110 million ($147 million) each.
In sports business, Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe slipped in the overall Rich List. His fortune fell by £1.85 billion ($2.5 billion) to £15.194 billion ($20.3 billion). List compilers downgraded the value of Ratcliffe's petrochemicals company INEOS to £17 billion ($22.7 billion) due to 'rising debt, falling revenues and a £515.7 million loss.'
Promoters Barry and Eddie Hearn also joined the UK billionaire club with a combined estimated fortune of £1.035 billion ($1.38 billion). Barry is founder and chairman of Matchroom Sport, one of the leading promotion companies in boxing, darts and snooker; his son Eddie serves as chairman of the organization.
