London already boasts more than 30. And last night it emerged that French luxury goods tycoon Francois-Henri Pinault and his wife, Hollywood star Salma Hayek, are moving to Kensington.
Around half of Britain’s super-rich have come from abroad, attracted to the lifestyle, private schools and the rule of law. There is also less scrutiny of tax and general business affairs than in some jurisdictions.
Ukrainian-born American Leonard Blavatnik, 56, is the richest man in the UK worth £10.8billion
New millionaires include Farhad Moshiri, an Iranian-British businessman who owns 15 per cent of Arsenal Football Club, and Indonesian entrepreneur Prakash Lohia, who made his fortunes from petrochemicals and textiles. Known as The Maharajah of Mayfair, he spent an estimated £50 million restoring his London house.
They appear alongside established names such as retail tycoon Philip Green and property magnates Earl Cadogan and the Duke of Westminster. And rich list regular Richard Branson has increased his personal wealth by 32 per cent in a year.
Here, then, are Britain’s top 50 billionaires in order - along with their taste in planes, yachts, art and property, with the odd charitable donation along the way.
Richard Branson, worth £3.5billion, pictured with Dita Von Teese for Virgin Atlantic's 10th anniversary
British James Dyson, 66, £2.9billion, invented the bagless vacuum cleaner
Britain's newest billionaire Farhad Moshiri and Nicole Scherzinger at the Global Gift Gala in London
Slavica Ecclestone has £1bn of her own post divorce from Bernie Ecclestone, who has £400m more
Lord David Sainsbury, worth £1.1bn, Lord Sainsbury, 73, served as Labour Minister for Science and Innovation
Mary Perkins, Founder and Head of the Optican, Specsavers, is the richest woman born in the UK
Russian tycoon Roman Abramovich, worth £4.8¿billion, owns Chelsea FC but began selling plastic ducks
