The figures, published in the latest edition of The Sunday Times Rich List, underline the scale of wealth being generated across the wider South West region, while also raising questions about how towns like Swindon can benefit from the economic growth happening around them.
Dyson, whose consumer technology empire remains one of Britain’s most recognisable engineering success stories, retained the top regional spot despite his estimated wealth dropping sharply from £20.8 billion last year. According to The Sunday Times, revenues at Dyson’s business have fallen by 13.5 per cent over the past two years, partly linked to global economic pressures and US tariffs.
Yet even with that decline, the scale of wealth concentrated across the region remains enormous.
The combined wealth of the UK’s 350 richest people now stands at £783.5 billion, according to the publication, with Southwest entrepreneurs, investors and business owners continuing to feature heavily.
Among the names on this year’s Southwest list are Superdry founder Julian Dunkerton and fashion designer Jade Holland Cooper, who re-entered the rankings with an estimated combined wealth of £518 million. Holland Cooper was also named the wealthiest person under 40 in the region.
Robert Watts, compiler of the Sunday Times Rich List, said:
“This year’s edition shines a light on fortunes made from artificial intelligence, driverless cars and crypto-currencies as well as baby milk, make-up, hoodies and other everyday items.”
While many of the names on the list are associated with Bristol, Bath, Gloucestershire and the wider South West economy, Swindon increasingly finds itself part of the same economic conversation.
In recent months, Swindon has seen growing interest from defence, logistics and technology firms, including drone company Harmattan AI, which recently revealed ambitions to expand into the town following talks with South Swindon MP Will Stone.
The town is also positioning itself as a key location between the innovation economies of Bristol, Oxford and Reading, helped by improving transport links and lower operating costs compared to neighbouring cities.
Approval for a new direct rail service between Swindon and Oxford, alongside continued commercial development across the town, has further fuelled ambitions for Swindon to become a stronger player in advanced manufacturing, technology and AI-led industries.
However, the publication of this year’s Rich List also comes at a time when many households continue to face rising living costs and economic uncertainty.
Robert Watts added this year’s edition highlighted:
“Many foreign billionaires who have been living in the UK have also dropped out because they have moved away. We have also seen a sharp rise in the number of British nationals now resident in Dubai, Switzerland and Monaco. As UK nationals these people remain on our Rich List, wherever they now live.”
He called it “a tale of two exoduses”, with wealthy individuals increasingly leaving the UK or relocating assets overseas. He warned the trend could pose wider economic questions for Britain around investment, taxation and job creation in the years ahead.
For Swindon, the challenge may be whether it can capture more of the wealth and opportunity being generated across the wider region, rather than simply sitting alongside it.
The full Sunday Times Rich List will be published online on Friday morning and in print this weekend.
