THE wealth of Scotland’s 10 richest people or families grew by almost 10 per cent in the last year to a new high of £14.71 billion.
The figures appear in the latest version of the Sunday Times Rich List, which names the Grant-Gordon family of whisky distillers as the country’s richest people with a fortune of £2.37bn, up £210 million on last year.
The compilers of the Rich List say their top 10 in Scotland proves the Scottish economy is not dependent on oil – contrary to the position of many opponents of independence.
Only two, Norwegian entrepreneur Trond Mohn and Sir Ian Wood and his family, are completely dependent on the oil and gas industry for their fortunes, which are estimated at £1.62bn and £1.6bn respectively.
Others in the top 10 include Mahdi al-Tajir, owner of Highland Spring, whose wealth fell by £65m but who still has a fortune of £1.67bn, putting him third on the list.
The family of the late car dealer Sir Arnold Clark are also in the billionaires’ club, with a fortune of £1.1bn.
Rich List compiler Robert Watts said: “Our Scottish list of 10 billionaires shatters the myth that this country’s economy runs on oil alone. Scotland is a place where 10-figure fortunes can be built from whisky, car dealing or even bottled water. This reflects the changing nature of wealth in 21st-century Britain.
“Gone are the days when the Rich List would be dominated by finance, property or manufacturing. Greater diversity of entrepreneurial success is good news for the wider economy, and ultimately us all.”
Jim McColl of Clyde Blowers is in 10th place with a fortune of £1.07bn, while the most controversial inclusion is former Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed, who is listed because of his large Highland estate and is placed second with a fortune of £1.7bn.
Glaswegian John Shaw and his wife Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw have made the top 10 for the first time due to the soaring value of their Biocon business based in Bangalore, India. Mazumdar-Shaw is one of India’s foremost philanthropists and is reg- ularly ranked in lists of the world’s most powerful women. She has honorary doctorates from three Scottish universities.
The Shaws’ wealth has almost doubled in the last year to £1.15bn, putting them in seventh place, along with Philip Day, owner of Edinburgh Woollen Mill.
The full Rich List will be published tomorrow. It will say the wealth of Mike Ashley, the Rangers shareholder who has constant legal battles with the current board, has fallen by £270m to £2.16bn.
Watts said: “This year’s list lays bare how the fortunes of Britain’s 1000 wealthiest individuals and families have fared amid the astonishing events of the past 12 months.”
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