Former England football captain David Beckham has become the first billionaire sportsman in the UK, according to the 2026 Sunday Times Rich List.
Former England captain David Beckham has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first billionaire sportsman in the United Kingdom. According to the 2026 edition of the Sunday Times Rich List, the accumulated wealth of Beckham and his wife Victoria, who runs her own fashion label, now stands at £1.85 billion. This places them second among the richest sportspeople in the UK, just behind the wealth of Bernie Ecclestone's family, valued at £2 billion.
Beckham, who retired from professional football in 2013 after a successful career with Manchester United, is currently a co-owner of Major League Soccer's club Inter Miami. The team is considered the most valuable in its league, with a valuation of £1.07 billion. Beckham also had stints with Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, and LA Galaxy during his playing days.
While Victoria generated her wealth primarily through her fashion label, she was originally famous as a member of the Spice Girls. David Beckham's net worth is bolstered by his role as a brand ambassador for companies such as Adidas and Hugo Boss.
Notably, Rory McIlroy has also made significant strides in the world of sports, becoming the seventh-wealthiest sportsman with a fortune of £325 million after winning back-to-back Masters titles. Meanwhile, Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe's ranking has dipped to ninth place from seventh, though his overall wealth has decreased by £1.85 billion to £15.194 billion.
Other notable figures on the Rich List include Lewis Hamilton, who is ranked fifth with a fortune of £435 million, and Anthony Joshua, who is placed eighth at £240 million, one step above Tyson Fury's wealth of £162 million. England men's football team captain Harry Kane and retired Wimbledon champion Andy Murray are joint 10th place on the list, each with a fortune of £110 million.
This ranking underscores Beckham's enduring influence in both sports and business, solidifying his status as one of Britain's most successful athletes and entrepreneurs.
