Betfred Brothers Lead UK's Biggest Taxpayers in 2026 List
The annual Sunday Times Tax List has unveiled the United Kingdom's one hundred most significant taxpayers for the past year, with gambling magnates Fred and Peter Done of Betfred securing the top position for the very first time. The billionaire siblings, who founded their Warrington-based business empire in 1967, contributed an estimated £400.1 million in tax, marking a dramatic near 50 per cent increase from their previous year's bill of £273.4 million.
Celebrity and Sporting Icons Feature Prominently
The prestigious list showcases a diverse array of high-profile figures from the worlds of literature, music, and sport. Harry Potter author JK Rowling was ranked 36th with a substantial tax payment of £47.5 million, while former One Direction star Harry Styles made his debut entry with a contribution of £24.7 million. Premier League footballers also made a significant impact, with Manchester City's Erling Haaland appearing at number 72 with an estimated £16.9 million tax bill and Liverpool's Mo Salah contributing approximately £14.5 million.
Other notable names included musician Ed Sheeran at 64th place with a £19.9 million payment, while financial trading entrepreneur Alex Gerko secured second place overall with a £331.4 million contribution, closely followed by hedge fund manager Chris Rokos at £330 million.
Collective Tax Contributions Show Substantial Rise
Collectively, the top one hundred taxpayers paid a staggering £5.758 billion in tax over the past year, representing a substantial increase from the £4.985 billion recorded in the previous period. Robert Watts, the compiler of the influential list, attributed this significant jump largely to higher corporation tax rates and other fiscal adjustments implemented by the Labour Government, which have been designed to bolster welfare spending across the nation.
"This is an increasingly diverse list," Mr Watts observed, "with Premier League footballers and world famous pop stars lining up alongside aristocrats and business owners selling pies, pillows and baby milk. This year there's been a big jump in the amount of tax we've identified – largely because of higher corporation tax rates."
Growing Trend of Wealthy Individuals Departing the UK
However, the 2026 list also highlighted a concerning trend of wealthy individuals choosing to leave the United Kingdom. Six taxpayers featured on the ranking despite having relocated abroad over the past year, amid widespread speculation that these moves were motivated by a desire to avoid higher personal taxes under the Labour administration or due to the removal of the non-dom status.
These individuals included Revolut founder Nik Storonsky, Wren Kitchens founder Malcolm Healey, and prominent sports promoter Eddie Hearn. Mr Watts commented on this notable exodus, stating: "One in nine of the people who make the tax list are no longer listed as resident here in the UK, instead choosing to live in Morocco, Dubai, Switzerland, Cyprus, Portugal, the United States and the Channel Islands. Clearly the tax listers who have moved offshore are still delivering huge sums to HM Treasury through their businesses, but the Chancellor would no doubt be raising even more money from these people had they chosen to stay put and remain liable for personal tax here."
The Sunday Times Tax List continues to provide a fascinating annual snapshot of fiscal contributions from the UK's wealthiest individuals and business leaders, revealing both the substantial revenues generated for the Treasury and the evolving patterns of residence among the nation's financial elite.
