Despite a drop in UK billionaires, leading figures in the brewing, distilling and drinks world remain among the country’s wealthiest, according to the 2025 Rich List.
The UK’s wealthiest 350 individuals and families have amassed a record-breaking combined fortune of £795.36 billion, according to the 2025 edition of The Sunday Times Rich List. That total is £16.033 billion more than last year, despite economic turbulence and a higher tax environment.
The number of billionaires on the list has dropped for a second year running - down to 165 from a peak of 177 in 2022 - yet the drinks industry remains well represented, with major fortunes linked to brewing, distilling and drinks packaging. Among the most prominent are Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken and Michel de Carvalho, with a combined wealth of £13.1 billion, and Glenn Gordon & family of William Grant & Sons, valued at £6.4 billion.
The list, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, was founded by the late Nigel Dempster and is now compiled by Robert Watts. “This year’s Sunday Times Rich List suggests Britain’s billionaire boom has come to an end,” Watts said. “Many of our home-grown entrepreneurs have seen their fortunes fall and some of the global super-rich who came here are moving away.”
Nevertheless, several long-established drinks fortunes have proven resilient, maintaining a strong presence in the UK’s wealth hierarchy.
No.13: Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken
£10.09bn
Down 5 places since 2023, De Carvalho-Heineken is the only daughter of Freddy Heineken, who died in 2002. She inherited roughly a quarter of Heineken’s shares and the power to overrule the brewing giant’s directors.
No.17: The Perrodo Family
£9.3bn
Climbing 9 places since 2023, oil and gas is the bedrock of the family’s £7 billion fortune. It owns Wytch Farm oil field in Dorset, which produces around 14,000 barrels of oil a day, as well as 45 offshore platforms, 14 subsea wells and 1,500 miles of pipeline connected to onshore terminals.
However, the family also owns premium Bordeaux winery Château Labégorce in Margaux, which it bought in 1989. The property’s 70-hectare vineyard includes vines aged up to 100 years old.
When the Porrodos first acquired Labégorce, their vision was to reunite three wine-producing estates that had been divided during the French Revolution.
In 2006, the family further acquired Château Marquis d’Alesme, a third growth Margaux.
Nathalie Porrodo (pictured above) manages the family’s wine operations, while her brother Bertrand invested in 31Dover, a London-based online drinks company which has since ceased trading.
No.29: Glen Gordon and Family
£6.398bn
The family behind spirits company William Grant and Sons, which owns brands including Glenfiddich, Drambuie and Hendrick’s gin, occupies 44th position in 2023, up a hefty 15 places since 2023.
The family built the Glenfiddich distillery in 1886, followed by the nearby Balvenie distillery. Today, its spirits are shipped to almost 200 markets around the world and the business has grown to employ more than 2,800 people.
Gordon Grant, the great great-grandson of the company’s founder, has served as chairman since 2012.
No.35: Hilton Schloshberg
£5.457bn
Heir to energy drinks giant Monster, South African born Schloshberg will run the business alone now that his long term business partner Rodney Sacks has announced his retirement. Shares in the makers of Relentless have fallen.
No.58: Alki David and the Leventis family/ Coca-Cola HBC
£2.898bn
Premium spirits are an important part of the Coca-Cola HBC product range via partnerships with premium spirits producers.
In 2008, Coca-Cola partnered with Brown-Forman (Jack Daniels, Finlandia, El Jimador) to distribute its products, which it now does in nine different markets. In 2010, Coca-Cola became the distributor for Edrington (Famous Grouse, Macallan, Brugal whiskies) and today provides 14 markets with Edrington products.
In 2016, Coca-Cola launched a partnership with Gruppo Campari (Campari, Aperol, Cinzano), which it currently distributes to 14 markets. It also partners with Remy-Cointreau, Jägermeister, Nemiroff, Pulcari, Lucano, Glendalough and Ouzo Plomari.
A jury last year ordered David to pay £900 million to a former member of staff in what is thought to be the largest sexual assault damages award in US history.
No.61: Alejandro Santo Domingo and Lady Charlotte Wellesley / SAB Miller
£2.661bn
SAB Miller plc was a South African multinational brewing and beverage company headquartered in Woking, until 10 October 2016 when it was acquired by AB InBev for a £78.4 billion sum.
At that time, according to the
Financial Times, it was the third largest acquisition in history and the largest ever in Britain.
Prior to the acquisition, SAB Miller was the world’s second-largest brewer measured by revenues, with brands including Carling Black Label, Peroni and Castle Lager. Following the takeover of the company, AB in Bev sold on a number of brands, including MillerCoors to Molson Coors.
Columbian-American financier Alejandro Santo Domingo sits on the board of AB InBev, holding a £1 billion stake in the brewing giant.
His father, Julio Mario Santo Domingo, passed down a 15% stake in SAB Mille to his sons and grandchildren when he died in 2011.
No.168: Earl of Iveagh and the Guinness family
£856m
The Earl of Iveagh, heir to the Guinness brewing empire, saw his family’s net worth drop from £983 million in 2023 to £856m this year, but still made it comfortably into the top 200 of the UK’s wealthiest individuals.
House of Guinness, a Netflix Drama about the earl's ancestors, is out later this year.
No.304: BrewDog's James Watt
£425m
BrewDog's co-founder earlier this year hit out at the idea of "work-life balance. He says "work-life integration" is much better. He married Made in Chelsea star Georgia Toffolo in March.
