Preston-born hedge fund billionaire Michael Platt has once again been named among the richest people in the UK, as featured in the 2024 edition of the Sunday Times Rich List.
The 56-year-old financial powerhouse, known for his intensely private lifestyle, has amassed a colossal personal fortune through his hedge fund, BlueCrest Capital Management.
This year, his wealth is estimated at an astonishing £12 billion, earning him the 12th spot on the prestigious list.
Platt isn’t the only figure from the region making waves on the national wealth rankings.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the co-owner of Manchester United and founder of chemicals giant INEOS, holds fourth place nationally with a fortune of £23.5 billion.
Also representing Lancashire is Hugh Grosvenor, the 33-year-old Duke of Westminster, who maintains close connections to the county through the Abbeystead Estate.
This sprawling estate encompasses large parts of the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which stretches just north of Preston into the Ribble Valley.
Grosvenor, who inherited his title after the death of his father in 2016, is worth an estimated £10.1 billion, making him the third wealthiest person in the North West and 14th overall on the UK list.
Further down the rankings, but still high on the regional list, are Mohsin and Zuber Issa from Blackburn.
The billionaire brothers, who co-own Asda and operate the global forecourt giant EG Group, are placed fifth in the North West and 39th nationally.
Despite a slight drop of £50 million in their estimated wealth over the past year, they still boast an impressive combined fortune of £5 billion.
Their business empire spans hundreds of sites across Lancashire and far beyond, making them two of the region’s most influential entrepreneurs.
