Rich List 2026: Derbyshire's wealthiest people revealed including Mike Ashley and the Duke of Devonshire
The richest people who live and work in Derbyshire have been named in the 38th annual Sunday Times Rich List.
Sports Direct tycoon, Mike Ashley, has once again claimed the top spot in the East Midlands list with an increase in wealth from £3.12 billion in 2025 to £3.437 billion this year.
Mr Ashley has purchased two shopping centres, including the East Midlands Designer Outlet at South Normanton, and set his sights on Hugo Boss and Sheffield Wednesday FC with shares in his Frasers Group rising by more than 10 per cent.
Despite being from Walsall he qualifies for the Derbyshire list due to his businesses being based in Shirebrook.
This year’s list of 350 individuals and families together holds combined wealth of £783.5 billion — a sum larger than the annual GDP of Belgium ($776 billion), Sweden ($760 billion) and Israel ($719 billion). It represents about a quarter of the United Kingdom's total annual GDP.
Behind Ashley with £3.11 billion is Derbyshire-born John Bloor, whose fortune is up from £3.101 billion last year. The billionaire businessman has transformed two British enterprises into global powerhouses: Bloor Homes and Triumph Motorcycles.
Also appearing on the list with increased wealth is the Duke of Devonshire, whose family seat is the iconic Chatsworth House. The Duke’s wealth is up from £910m.
The prominent landowner is one of the UK's wealthiest aristocrats, with a family fortune standing at £915 million this year.
The fortune of the Kirkland family, based at Heage, is up from £828m last year to £877m in 2026. The founders and owners of Bowmer + Kirkland, they are one of the UK’s most successful, privately-owned construction and development groups.
The minimum entry level dips to £340 million this year — an indicator of a subdued year.
Robert Watts, compiler of the Sunday Times Rich List, said: “This year’s Rich List is a tale of two exoduses. One in six of the individuals and families who appeared on the list two years ago don’t feature this time.
“Many foreign billionaires who have been living in the UK have also dropped out because they have moved away. We have also seen a sharp rise in the number of British nationals now resident in Dubai, Switzerland and Monaco. As UK nationals these people remain on our Rich List — wherever they now live.
“Over the years our research has told us a lot about our country, charting the way a generation of largely self-made entrepreneurs overtook the old money of the landed gentry.
“This year’s edition shines a light on fortunes made from artificial intelligence, driverless cars and crypto-currencies as well as baby milk, make-up, hoodies and other everyday items.”
Sir Elton John, Lord Lloyd-Webber, Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, JK Rowling, Charlotte Tilbury and Sir Lewis Hamilton all appear in the annual survey.
For the full list go to: https://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-rich-list