Hotel billionaires lead hospitality in Rich List
The hospitality industry put in a strong performance for what is considered to be a low-paid sector in this year's Sunday Times Rich List.
The fortunes of the richest 1,000 people in the UK and Ireland ranged from £7.5b (Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich) down to £40m, with the first showing for hospitality players at number 10, where Simon and David Reuben entered with their £2.2b fortune. The brothers are understood to be bidding for the UK arm of hotel company Queens Moat Houses.
Terry Matthews, who owns the Celtic Manor hotel in Gwent, was the only other billionaire hotelier in the list, at number 29 with a £1.11b fortune. There were several other famous names from the hotel industry on the list, including Sir Rocco Forte at number 117 with £385m.
Leading the restaurant sector was Planet Hollywood founder Robert Earl, in 321st place with £120m. Luke Johnson, co-founder of PizzaExpress and majority owner of Signature Restaurants, joined the list at 508 with £78m.
Entrepreneur Hugh Osmond topped the list in terms of pub landlords with a 223rd placing and a £180m fortune.
In a separate list of the 100 richest young people, only two hospitality professionals made the grade. Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, aged 28, took 18th place with £20m, while 25-year-old Jonathan Kaye, one of the directors of pizza and pasta restaurant chain Prezzo, was in 60th place with £6m.
