Former Manchester United and England football star David Beckham has become Britain’s first billionaire sportsman, according to the 2026 Sunday Times Rich List.
The publication estimated the combined wealth of Beckham and his wife, Victoria Beckham, at £1.185 billion ($1.58 billion), placing them among the wealthiest sports-linked figures in the United Kingdom.
The Beckhams ranked second on the list of Britain’s richest sports personalities, behind the family of former Formula One executive Bernie Ecclestone, whose fortune was estimated at £2 billion.
Since retiring from professional football in 2013, Beckham has expanded his business portfolio significantly. He is currently a co-owner of Inter Miami CF, which is reportedly valued at more than £1 billion, making it one of Major League Soccer’s most valuable clubs.
The former England captain also maintains high-profile endorsement partnerships with major global brands, including Adidas and Hugo Boss.
During his football career, Beckham won multiple trophies with Manchester United, including the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League, before later playing for Real Madrid CF, LA Galaxy, AC Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain F.C..
Victoria Beckham, who first rose to fame as a member of the pop group Spice Girls, has also built a successful fashion business that contributed significantly to the couple’s fortune.
Other athletes featured prominently on the Rich List include seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton, whose wealth was estimated at £435 million, and reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy, valued at £325 million.
Heavyweight boxing stars Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury also made the list with estimated fortunes of £240 million and £162 million respectively.
England striker Harry Kane and retired tennis champion Andy Murray were jointly ranked with estimated wealth of £110 million each.
Meanwhile, businessman Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United and chairman of INEOS, saw his fortune decline by £1.85 billion to £15.19 billion amid reported financial pressures facing the company.
Sports promotion executives Barry Hearn and Eddie Hearn also entered Britain’s billionaire ranks, with their combined wealth estimated at more than £1 billion.
