David Beckham joins UK billionaire club after wealth hits £1.18bn

Former Manchester United and England football star David Beckham has become the first British sportsman to reach billionaire status, according to the 2026 Sunday Times Rich List.

David Beckham and his wife, Victoria Beckham, now have a combined wealth of about £1.185 billion ($1.58 billion).

They are now the second-richest sports-related family in the UK, behind former Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone and his family, whose wealth is estimated at £2 billion.

Beckham, who stopped playing football in 2013, is one of the owners of Inter Miami CF, which is believed to be the most valuable club in Major League Soccer, worth around £1.07 billion.

The former football captain also earns money through endorsement deals with brands like Adidas and Hugo Boss.

During his football career, Beckham played for clubs such as Manchester United, Real Madrid CF, LA Galaxy, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain F.C.. He won several major trophies, including the Premier League and UEFA Champions League titles.

Victoria Beckham made much of her fortune from her fashion business after first becoming famous as a member of the pop group Spice Girls.

Other sports stars on the Rich List include:

Lewis Hamilton — worth £435 million

Rory McIlroy — worth £325 million

Anthony Joshua — worth £240 millio

Meanwhile, businessman Jim Ratcliffe saw his wealth drop by £1.85 billion to £15.194 billion. The value of his company, INEOS, was reduced because of rising debt, lower income and financial losses.

Sports promoters Barry Hearn and Eddie Hearn also became billionaires, with a combined wealth of £1.035 billion.