THE Duke of Westminster’s fortune has increased by £350m according to the Sunday Times Rich List – but he slipped down the rankings as one of Britain’s wealthiest citizens.
Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, 60, whose family seat is Eaton Hall, near Chester, is now seventh richest person compared with fourth in last year’s list, despite the value of his Grosvenor property empire rising to £7,350m.
A Major General with the Territorial Army, the duke is a major benefactor, particularly to military charities, with estimated giving last year estimated at £7.2m.
In 2011 he bought Stanford Hall, a Leicestershire estate, which is expected to become a rehabilitation centre for wounded soldiers and civilians after a multi-million pound conversion.
Robin Sheppard, 57, and family, who run Warrington-based European Metal Recycling, are ranked 60th in the rich list and estimated to be worth a cool £1,235m.
Founder of Moneysupermarket.com and Chester resident Simon Nixon, 44, has seen his wealth grow by £124m to £536m and rises from 194 to 155th in the list.
Businessman Steve Morgan, 59, of Carden Hall, Clutton, owns football club Wolverhampton Wanderers and chairs the Flintshire-based Redrow group which he founded in 1974. His wealth has increased by £10m to £410m but has slipped down the rankings from 200 to 216.
Near neighbour Malcolm Walker, 66, from Broxton , co-founder of Iceland frozen food chain is ranked 370 in the list, up from 418 last year, with an estimated £200m fortune.
Frodsham’s most famous son Gary Barlow of Take That and X-Factor fame is estimated to be worth £50m according to the Rich List’s top 50 of music millionaires.
