LONDON, United Kingdom – British sport and business, Sir David Beckham has officially become the first UK sportsman to reach billionaire status, according to the 2026 Sunday Times Rich List.
Okay News reports that the 51-year-old football icon, who was knighted by King Charles III in November 2025, now shares a combined fortune of £1.185 billion with his wife, Victoria Beckham. Their wealth has nearly doubled over the past year, propelling them to the second spot on the list of wealthiest sports figures, trailing only the family of former Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone (£2 billion).
The primary driver behind this financial surge is Beckham’s astute investment in Major League Soccer (MLS). His club, Inter Miami CF, is currently valued at $1.45 billion (£1.07 billion), making it the most valuable franchise in MLS history. The club’s valuation skyrocketed by 22% following their 2025 MLS Cup victory and the continued global commercial impact of stars like Lionel Messi. Additionally, Victoria Beckham’s fashion and beauty empire recorded revenues exceeding £100 million, further solidifying the couple’s “billion-dollar brand.”
Beckham’s ascent comes amid a challenging year for other British tycoons. Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe saw his personal fortune shrink by £1.85 billion to £15.194 billion due to declining revenues at Ineos, causing him to drop from seventh to ninth in the overall UK rankings. Meanwhile, the list also highlighted the rising wealth of other sporting elite, including golfer Rory McIlroy (£325 million) and heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua (£240 million).
Reflecting on his journey from East London to the billionaire bracket, Sir David recently described his knighthood and business success as milestones he “could never have imagined.” Beyond football and property, Beckham remains a global ambassador for major brands like Adidas and Hugo Boss, proving that his marketability remains unrivaled 13 years after his professional retirement.
