According to the 2026 The Sunday Times Rich List, Anders Holch Povlsen remains the wealthiest person in Scotland with an estimated fortune of £8.287 billion.

The 2026 edition of the Rich List was published on Friday morning and highlights major changes in wealth across Britain alongside what compilers describe as an exodus of wealthy individuals from the UK.

Povlsen, who is Scotland’s largest landowner and owner of the Shetland rocket launchpad, remains at the top of the Scottish rankings after rising profits at his retail business Bestseller reportedly lifted its value to £6.5 billion.

The Sunday Times also reported dividends of almost £350 million alongside gains of £38.3 million within his agricultural company.

J. K. Rowling remains among Scotland’s wealthiest individuals with her estimated wealth increasing by £30 million over the past year.

Sir Ian Wood was named Scotland’s most charitable person while Andy Murray was listed as the wealthiest Scot under the age of 40.

A major Scottish addition to this year’s billionaire rankings is Dunfermline born technology entrepreneur Paul Hamiltonwith estimated wealth of £1.081 billion.

Hamilton reportedly saved £1,300 from his job washing dishes in a pub as a teenager before buying his first computer and later founding software company Halo.

The business now provides software used by organisations including Microsoft, the Ministry of Justice, Red Bull and the University of Cambridge.

A private equity deal reportedly valued the company at around $2 billion.

The Sunday Times Rich List tracks the wealth of 350 individuals and families across Britain with combined wealth estimated at £783.5 billion.

Robert Watts said:

“This year’s Rich List is a tale of two exoduses.

“One in six of the individuals and families who appeared on the list two years ago don’t feature this time.

“Many foreign billionaires who have been living in the UK drop out because they have moved away.

“We have also seen a strong rise in the number of British nationals now resident in Dubai, Switzerland and Monaco.

“As UK nationals these people remain on our Rich List wherever they now live.

“These two exoduses pose challenges for the UK economy and its public finances.

“Will more of the wealthy now set up or grow their ventures overseas and in doing so create fewer jobs here?

“How much tax if any will Rachel Reeves’s Treasury be able to extract from those affluent Brits who have now left the country?”

THE SUNDAY TIMES RICH LIST 2026 – THE 10 WEALTHIEST IN SCOTLAND 

Rise in wealth ▲ Fall in wealth ▼ No change ■  New entry ★ Re-entry ◆

THE WEALTHIEST UNDER THE AGE OF 40 IN SCOTLAND

For the full 350 richest people in the UK go online at www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-rich-list