British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty have seen a significant rise in their wealth according to the latest edition of the 'Sunday Times Rich List'. Thanks to Murty's lucrative shareholding in Infosys, the couple has climbed from 275th place last year to 245th, with an estimated wealth of GBP 651 million. This places them as the wealthiest occupants of 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the UK Prime Minister.
Murty's earnings from her Infosys shares far surpass those of her husband, with her estimated dividends over the past year reaching GBP 13 million compared to Sunak's reported income of GBP 2.2 million for 2022-23. The surge in the couple's wealth is largely attributed to the growth in value of Murty's Infosys shares, which have increased by GBP 108.8 million over the past year.
The 'Sunday Times Rich List' also highlights the continued success of other prominent Indian-origin individuals and families in the UK. The Hinduja family remains at the top of the list with a wealth of GBP 37.196 billion, while brothers David and Simon Reuben rise to third place with a fortune of GBP 24.977 billion. NRI tycoon Lakshmi N. Mittal, industrialist Anil Agarwal, and textiles entrepreneur Prakash Lohia are among the other Indian-origin billionaires featured in the top ranks of the list.
Overall, the 36th edition of the rich list indicates a decline in the number of billionaires in Britain, with 165 individuals listed compared to 177 in the previous year. However, notable figures like former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney have seen their wealth increase, with McCartney becoming the first UK musician to achieve billionaire status after boosting his wealth by GBP 50 million over the past year.
