Former Manchester United and England icon David Beckham has officially become Britain’s first billionaire sportsman, according to the 2026 Sunday Times Rich List.

The collective wealth of Beckham and his wife Victoria reached an estimated GBP 1.185 billion (USD 1.583 billion) this year, propelling them to second place on the list of the UK’s wealthiest sports-related figures.

They trail only the family of former Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, whose fortune is valued at GBP 2 billion.

Beckham, now 51, has seen his valuation soar largely due to his role as co-owner of Inter Miami, which is currently estimated to be Major League Soccer’s most valuable club at GBP 1.07 billion.

Since retiring from professional football in 2013, the former England captain has also maintained lucrative brand ambassador roles with major companies such as Adidas and Hugo Boss.

Victoria Beckham’s contribution to the family fortune stems primarily from her successful fashion label, following her initial rise to global fame with the Spice Girls.

The Rich List highlights several other major figures in the sporting world.

Seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton holds the fifth spot with a fortune calculated at GBP 435 million, while reigning Masters golf champion Rory McIlroy ranks seventh with a GBP 325 million valuation.

In the boxing world, Anthony Joshua sits at eighth with GBP 240 million, just ahead of his heavyweight rival Tyson Fury, who is ninth with GBP 162 million.

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane and retired tennis star Andy Murray share the 10th position, each with an estimated wealth of GBP 110 million.

The business side of sports saw more volatility, as Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe experienced a drop in the overall Rich List.

His fortune shrank by GBP 1.85 billion to GBP 15.194 billion.

List compilers attributed this to the lowered valuation of his petrochemicals firm, INEOS, amid "rising debt, falling revenues and a loss of GBP 515.7 million."

Conversely, the world of sports promotion celebrated new entries into the billionaire bracket.

Father-and-son duo Barry and Eddie Hearn have officially joined Britain’s billionaire club with a combined wealth of GBP 1.035 billion.

Barry Hearn is the founder and president of Matchroom Sport—a dominant force in boxing, darts, and snooker—while his son Eddie currently serves as the organization’s chairman.