Former Manchester United and England captain David Beckham has become Britain’s first billionaire sportsman, according to the 2026 Sunday Times Rich List.
The list estimated the combined wealth of Beckham and his wife, Victoria Beckham, at £1.185 billion ($1.58 billion).
The Beckhams now rank second among the UK’s wealthiest sports personalities, behind the family of former Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone, whose fortune is estimated at £2 billion.
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The footballer, who retired from football in 2013, is a co-owner of Inter Miami CF, currently regarded as the most valuable club in Major League Soccer with an estimated valuation of £1.07 billion.
The 51-year-old also earns from endorsement and ambassadorial deals with major brands, including Adidas and Hugo Boss.
During his playing career, he captained the England national football team and enjoyed success with Manchester United F.C., winning multiple Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League before spells with Real Madrid CF, LA Galaxy, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain F.C..
Victoria Beckham, who rose to fame as a member of the Spice Girls, has built much of her fortune through her fashion business.
Elsewhere on the Rich List, seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton ranked fifth with an estimated fortune of £435 million.
Golf star Rory McIlroy was placed seventh with £325 million, while heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua ranked eighth with £240 million.
His rival, Tyson Fury, followed closely in ninth place with an estimated £162 million fortune.
Harry Kane and retired tennis star Andy Murray were joint 10th, with both valued at £110 million each.
Meanwhile, businessman Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United F.C., saw his overall fortune decline by £1.85 billion to £15.19 billion.
The Sunday Times attributed the drop to declining revenues and growing debt at INEOS, Ratcliffe’s petrochemicals firm.
Promoters Barry Hearn and Eddie Hearn also entered Britain’s billionaire ranks, with their combined wealth estimated at £1.035 billion.