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Jim Ratcliffe owns 60% of Ineos, the chemical compounds firm he based
A businessman who as soon as lived in a council home close to Manchester is the richest particular person within the UK, in accordance with the Sunday Times Rich List.
Jim Ratcliffe, who based chemical agency Ineos, topped the record with an estimated value of £21.05bnafter coming 18th final yr.
Two of the corporate's administrators are additionally on the record, which ranks Britain's wealthiest 1,000 folks or households.
Jamie Oliver and style tycoon Sir Philip Green noticed their fortunes drop.
Mr Ratcliffe, 65, moved from the council home in Failsworth to East Yorkshire as a boy.
He went to Beverley Grammar School, studied chemical engineering at Birmingham University, and bought an MBA from London Business School, in accordance with a Financial Times profile.
His father, who was a joiner, went on to run a manufacturing facility that made laboratory furnishings, whereas his mom labored in an accounts workplace.
Mr Ratcliffe's agency is presently locked in an authorized battle with the Scottish authorities over its moratorium on fracking.
His wealth leapt by £15bn prior to now yrpartly due to a revaluation of his belongings. He is the primary UK-born particular person to high the wealthy record for the reason that Duke of Westminster in 2003.
Ineos chairman, Jim Ratcliffe, on how Britain ought to negotiate Brexit
Mr Ratcliffe has been on expeditions to the North and South Poles, has run marathons, and is a Manchester United fan.
In 2015, he stated the UK may thrive outdoors the European Union. "The Brits are completely able to managing the Brits and do not want Brussels telling them handle issues," he stated.
"I simply do not imagine within the idea of a United States of Europe. It's not viable."
In 2016, he instructed the BBC the federal government wanted "spine" when negotiating its exit from the EU.
At second place within the record have been the Hinduja brothers, Sri and Gopi, value £20.64bn. Their fortune jumped by £four.44 billion from 2017.
British-American industrialist-turned-media mogul Sir Len Blavatnik got here in third place with £15.26bn.
Sir Philip Green's estimated fortune fell by £787m to £2bnpartly due to his determination to contribute £363m to the BHS pension deficit.
Jamie Oliver fell off the record completely, after issues at his restaurant group.
In whole, 141 ladies are on the wealthy record, with Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken, of the brewing dynasty, ranked highest at quantity six.
Robert Watts, who compiled the record, stated: "Britain is altering. Gone are the times when previous cash and a small band of industries dominated the Sunday Times Rich List.
"Aristocrats and inherited wealth has been elbowed out of the record and changed by a military of self-made entrepreneurs.
"Today's tremendous wealthy embrace individuals who have arrange companies promoting chocolate, sushi, pet meals and eggs.
"We're seeing extra folks from humble backgrounds, who struggled in school or who did not even begin their companies till properly into center age."