Sir David Beckham has etched his name into British sporting and financial history, becoming the country’s first billionaire sportsman after the combined wealth of him and his wife, Lady Victoria Beckham, surpassed the billion-pound mark for the first time, according to the 2026 Sunday Times Rich List published on Thursday.

The couple’s collective fortune was valued at £1.185 billion equivalent to approximately $1.6 billion representing a remarkable near-doubling of the £500 million estimated just a year prior. The surge places the Beckhams second on the Sunday Times list of Britain’s wealthiest sports-related figures, behind only the family of former Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, whose wealth was assessed at £2 billion.

The extraordinary growth in the Beckhams’ wealth has been driven largely by David’s co-ownership stake in Inter Miami, the Major League Soccer club currently valued at $1.45 billion, making it the most valuable franchise in the league. The club’s fortunes have soared since the arrival of Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, whose contract runs until 2028, with a major property development adjoining the stadium adding further commercial weight to the investment.

Beyond football, Beckham has continued to generate enormous sums through long-running brand ambassador partnerships with global companies including Adidas and Hugo Boss.

Victoria Beckham’s contribution to the milestone has been equally significant. Her eponymous fashion label posted revenues exceeding £100 million this year, cementing her standing as a formidable business force in her own right, having long evolved beyond her origins as a member of the iconic Spice Girls.

Beckham, 51, captained England and lifted the Premier League title and the UEFA Champions League during a storied playing career at Manchester United, before going on to represent Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain before his retirement from professional football in 2013. The knighthood he received in 2024 gave him his formal title of Sir David Beckham, a distinction that now accompanies one of the most remarkable post-playing career transformations in the history of sport.

Elsewhere on the Rich List, boxing promoters Barry and Eddie Hearn of the Matchroom Sport empire joined the billionaire bracket with a combined valuation of £1.035 billion. Seven-time Formula One world champion Sir Lewis Hamilton was placed fifth with a fortune of £435 million, while reigning Masters golf champion Rory McIlroy was seventh at £325 million. Heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua featured eighth at £240 million, one place above rival Tyson Fury at £162 million, with the two men expected to further grow their wealth once a confirmed date and venue for their highly anticipated fight is announced.