The Hinduja brothers have ranked first in the 2017 list of richest people in the United Kingdom with an estimated wealth of 16.2 billion pounds, 3.2 billion pounds in their fortunes over the previous year.
There are more than 40 Indian-origin people in this year’s list of the 1,000 wealthiest people, who seem to be reaping a so-called “Brexit bonanza”.
‘The Sunday Times Rich List’ says that uncertainties triggered by Britain’s vote to leave the European Union (EU) last June have not impacted the country’s billionaires’ ability to make money, as they grew in numbers with a 14% rise in their fortunes since last year to earn a record £658 billion collectively.
81-year-old Srichand Hinduja and 77-year-old Gopichand Hinduja lead an elite group of 134 United Kingdom based billionaires on the list. They have built their empire from investments in industries such as oil and gas, automotive, IT, energy, media, banking, property and health sectors/
Their latest project, in which they are reportedly investing 350 million pounds, will convert the Old War Office in London into a five-star hotel and luxury apartments.
The Hindujas have also recently bought British assets, including Careline, an outsourcing business, and the bus maker Optare. There are assets in Switzerland of about £3.6 billion, according to Bilan’s 2016 ‘Swiss Rich List’. Their six-storey mansion, a sapphire’s throw from Buckingham Palace, adds £300 million,” it adds.
The compiler of the list for the newspaper, Robert Watts said: “While many of us worried about the outcome of the EU referendum, many of Britain’s richest people just kept calm and carried on making billions.”
We expected to see a chilling effect in the run-up to the EU referendum, but that simply did not materialise. A buoyant stock market usually drives the wealth of Rich Listers higher, and since last June equities have soared,” he added.
It now takes assets of 100 million pounds to break into the rank of the richest 1,000 people in the United Kingdom. The figure rose from 2016’s 103 million pounds.
The top 20 wealthiest in the list are worth 191.77 billion pounds, increasing their wealth by £35.18 billion over the past 12 months.
Indian-origin girls IQ higher than Hawking and Einstein
AMandeep
