While King Charles continues his battle with cancer and steps back from public duties, there’s one area of his life that’s been steadily rising — his personal fortune.
In the past year alone, his wealth has increased by £30 million, taking his total to a staggering £640 million.
That makes him not only richer than the Beckhams but now on par with former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty.
King Charles Climbs Rich List With £30 Million Boost
According to the latest edition of The Sunday Times Rich List, Charles, who became monarch in 2022 at age 73, has seen his personal fortune climb significantly.
He now sits in joint 238th place among the UK’s 350 richest people and families, climbing 20 spots from last year’s position at 258.
This year’s increase cements his place as twice as wealthy as his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who was believed to be worth £370 million in 2022.
Where Does Charles’ Wealth Come From?
Much of King Charles’ wealth comes from what he inherited personally from the late Queen.
This includes valuable investment portfolios and private estates like Sandringham in Norfolk and Balmoral in Aberdeenshire.
It’s important to note that this figure does not include assets like the Crown Estate, the Duchy of Lancaster, or the Crown Jewels, which are all held in trust for the nation.
The Rich List only considers personal wealth, meaning Charles’ actual financial standing might be even higher if those were included.
Charles vs The Beckhams and Sunaks
To put things in perspective: King Charles is now £140 million richer than David and Victoria Beckham, who together are reportedly worth £500 million.
Former footballer David Beckham remains Britain’s wealthiest sports star, but even he can’t catch up to the King.
Meanwhile, Charles has drawn level with Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murty, whose own fortune fell slightly this year by £11 million, bringing their total to exactly £640 million.
Cancer Battle and Quiet Gains
Despite facing health struggles — including ongoing cancer treatment — King Charles’ finances have remained strong.
The bulk of his financial success this year reportedly stems from investments inherited from the late Queen, which have continued to grow.
During his decades as the Prince of Wales, Charles also benefited from the Duchy of Cornwall, which provided him with a private income of up to £23 million a year.
That estate is now passed on to Prince William.
Rich List Reflects Wealth Shift in the UK
The 2025 Sunday Times Rich List has arrived with some surprises.
It spans 76 pages and includes the financial rankings of 350 individuals and families, based on land, property, shares, art, and other traceable wealth.
Interestingly, this year marks a historic dip in billionaires, falling from 165 in 2024 to just 156 in 2025 — the sharpest drop since the list was created 37 years ago.
Why Are Billionaires Leaving?
The drop in super-wealthy residents is being tied to changes in the UK’s tax landscape.
In particular, Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ decision to scrap the non-dom tax status has sparked backlash.
That rule allowed wealthy residents to avoid paying UK tax on overseas income.
Robert Watts, who compiles the Rich List, said there’s been noticeable criticism of the new tax regime — not just from overseas billionaires, but also from British tech entrepreneurs and family business owners who feel the new rules are pushing them away.
The Fall of the Non-Doms
Akshata Murty, wife of Rishi Sunak, was among the high-profile individuals known to have non-dom tax status in the past.
The couple’s fortune dipped this year, mainly due to a drop in the value of Murty’s shares in Infosys, the Indian tech firm co-founded by her billionaire father.
Murty and Sunak have since launched a numeracy charity in the UK and are pursuing ventures abroad, including Sunak’s part-time role at Stanford University and his speaking engagements in the US.
Other Big Movers on the Rich List
Topping the Rich List once again is the Hinduja family, with a fortune of £35.3 billion, despite a dip from last year.
They’re followed by property tycoons David and Simon Reuben, investor Sir Leonard Blavatnik, and entrepreneur Sir James Dyson.
Not everyone had a good year, though. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, part-owner of Manchester United and founder of Ineos, saw his wealth shrink by another £6 billion, dropping him to £17 billion.
From Mobile Games to Multi-Billions
On the flip side, the biggest gainers were Igor and Dmitry Bukhman, the Russian-born brothers behind mobile game hits like Gardenscapes and Fishdom.
Their wealth nearly doubled to £12.5 billion, propelling them up the list as rising stars of digital entrepreneurship.