Former England captain David Beckham has officially become the UK’s first billionaire sportsman, according to the 2026 Sunday Times Rich List.
The list estimates the combined wealth of Beckham and his wife, Victoria Beckham, at £1.185 billion, placing them among the richest sporting figures in the country.
They rank second among sports personalities, behind the family of former Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone, whose fortune is valued at around £2 billion.
Northern Ireland golfer Rory McIlroy also features on the list, sitting seventh among sports stars with an estimated £325 million following his recent success on the PGA Tour, including back-to-back Masters wins.
In the broader UK rankings, Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United, slipped from seventh to ninth place after a reported £1.85 billion drop in his wealth, now estimated at £15.194 billion.
Since retiring from football, Beckham has built a strong business empire, moving from global football icon to successful entrepreneur and club owner.
He is currently a co-owner of Inter Miami CF, one of Major League Soccer’s most valuable teams, reportedly worth about $1.45 billion.
Alongside club ownership, Beckham continues to earn from high-profile endorsement deals with global brands such as Adidas and Hugo Boss, strengthening his position as one of the most commercially successful athletes in the world.
