Lancashire figures top rich list

Four Lancashire business figures are represented atop the latest Sunday Times Rich list.

While the number one spot is held by Sir Jim Ratcliffe of chemicals firm Ineos, worth an estimated £23bn, the top five contains a strong Lancashire showing.

Second place is held by Michael Platt, the Preston-born financier and co-founder of the BlueCrest Capitals hedge fund. His estimated worth is £11.5bn, up £1.5bn over the last year.

Third place is held by the Duke of Westminster and the Grosvenor family, whose fortune has been made through the Grosvenor property group.

The Duke of Westminster's seats are at Eaton Hall, Cheshire, and at Abbeystead House, Lancashire. The role is currently held by Hugh Grosvenor, the 7th Duke of Westminster, who inherited the position on the death of his father in 2016. With the title came more than £9bn in wealth. He also sits in first place of the under 35s list.

The fifth spot is jointly held by Blackburn-born Mohsin and Zuber Issa, founders of the EG Group and owners of supermarket giant Asda.

The Blackburn-born brothers are estimated to be worth £5.05bn, which is an increase of more than £300m over the last year.

The list is based on identifiable wealth, including land, property, other assets such as art and racehorses, or significant shares in publicly quoted companies. It excludes bank accounts, to which the Sunday Times has no access.