Music boss Len Blavatnik named as Britain's richest man

Image source, PA

Image caption, Len Blavatnik (L) has taken the top spot from Gopi Hinduja (R) and his brother Sri

Warner Music owner Len Blavatnik is Britain's richest man with a 拢13.17bn fortune, according to the 2015 Sunday Times Rich List.

He takes the top spot from brothers Sri and Gopi Hinduja, now worth 拢13bn.

The total wealth of the richest 1,000 individuals and families in Britain has more than doubled in the last 10 years to 拢547bn, the survey reported.

The Queen, who topped the first list in 1989, has dropped out of the top 300 for the first time.

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, The Queen has been on every Sunday Times Rich List since she topped the first one in 1989

There are now 117 billionaires on the list, up from 104 in 2014, with 80 of them living in London.

Mr Blavatnik, who was born in Odessa in the then Soviet Union and became a US citizen in the 1980s, has investments that range from metals and oil to music publishing and digital media. He owns a 拢41m home in London and has donated 拢75m to Oxford University to found the Blavatnik School of Government.

More billionaires

The highest risers in terms of wealth are the retail family headed by Galen and George Weston, who run Selfridges and Primark in the UK.

Their fortune has grown by 拢3.7bn - more than 50% in a year - to 拢11bn.

Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich comes in at number 10 on the list with a fortune of 拢7.29bn, down 拢1.23bn on last year, while Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson has seen his wealth rise from 拢3.6bn to 拢4.1bn, making him 20th richest in Britain.

A personal fortune of 拢100m is now required to become one of the 1,000 richest people in the country, up 拢15m compared with last year's entry point of 拢85m.

In 1997 it took a fortune of just 拢15m to join Britain's richest 1,000 people.