Blavatnik UK’s Richest

The $20.12 billion so far amassed by Warner Music Group owner Len Blavatnik makes him better off than anyone else in the UK, according to the 2015 edition of the Sunday Times Rich List.

A year ago the Ukrainian-born American citizen, who was then worth $16.8 billion, was the richest man in the UK music industry, although most of his money has come from oil and other investments.

In terms of the wealthiest people on the planet, Blavatnik would be in 47th place. When it comes to money made out of music, Paul McCartney – who ties at 154 in the Rich List – would probably come out top with his $1.1 billion, although $229.4 million of that belongs to third wife Nancy Shevell.

Next up is composer and musical producer Andrew Lloyd-Webber, whose $996 million fortune puts him in a share of 172nd place. U2 appears in 22nd place in a separate list of Ireland’s wealthiest with $660.7 million, enough to put them at No. 253 on the UK list.

The others to appear in a combined UK and Irish Top Ten Rich List would be XIX Entertainment chief Simon Fuller ($605 million), TV talent show impresario Simon Cowell ($498 million), Ministry Of Sound owner and Liberal Democrat peer Lord Palumbo ($459 million), Elton John ($413 million), Irish dance maestro Michael Flatley ($409 million), and Mick Jagger ($344 million).