Former Manchester United player and England football team captain David Beckham has become Britain’s first billionaire sportsman, according to the 2026 Sunday Times Rich List.
Beckham and his wife Victoria’s collective wealth reached an estimated £1.185 billion this year, the Rich List compilers reported.
This moves them into second place in the list of the UK’s wealthiest sportspeople, behind the family of ex-Formula One CEO Bernie Ecclestone, whose wealth was valued at £2 billion.
The midfielder retired from football in 2013 following an extensive career where he captained England for six years and won the Premier League and Champions League during his time with Manchester United, before spells at Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.
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Wealth accumulation
According to the Sunday Times, the 51-year-old and his wife have amassed their wealth thanks to “shrewd investments across football, food and drink, property and fashion”.
“The valuation, compiled for the annual Sunday Times Rich List, makes Beckham the first British billionaire sportsman and means the couple’s wealth has more than doubled over the past year, when they were worth £500 million.”
The couple’s success has been attributed to their lucrative endorsement deals including David’s ownership of US football team Inter Miami CF and Victoria’s namesake fashion and beauty line.
Inter Miami CF is currently estimated to be Major League Soccer’s (MLS) most valuable club at £1.07 billion.
In 2019, David also became part owner of Salford City in a 10 percent stake alongside former Man United team-mates Gary and Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt.
The former England captain won 19 major trophies during his career and is the only English player to win league titles in four different countries namely England, France, Spain and the US.
The boost for the Beckhams comes after a turbulent few months for the couple as their eldest son Brooklyn Beckham publicised a series of explosive claims accusing his parents of ruining his wedding to model Nicola Peltz in 2022, and prioritising their ‘brand’ above all else.
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