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Dublin: 8 °C Thursday 23 May, 2013

Denis O’Brien the biggest Irish loser on the Sunday Times Rich List

It’s not all bad news for O’Brien though. He’s still Ireland’s second richest person.

Denis O'Brien, Ireland's second richest person (File photo)
Denis O'Brien, Ireland's second richest person (File photo)
Image: Photocall Ireland

MEDIA AND MOBILE phone mogul Denis O’Brien has seen a decrease of €348million in his fortune in the past year, the biggest drop in wealth among Ireland’s richest people, according to the Sunday Times Rich List which has been published today.

It’s not all bad news for O’Brien though, as with a fortune of over €2.6 billion, he’s still Ireland’s second richest person. Top spot (on €7.1 billion) goes to retailer Hilary Weston and her family, who own Brown Thomas in Dublin and Selfridges in London. This is their fourth year in the number one spot.

Investor John Dorrance is at number three on the list of Ireland’s richest people, followed by financier Dermot Desmond and The Earl of Iveagh and the Guinness family.

All Irish-born people are eligible for the list, and of the 250 named, 46 are also among Britain’s richest 1,000 people. The combined wealth of Ireland’s richest 250 people is €46.71 billion. That’s compared to €43.6 billion in 2011.

Topping the overall rich list is steel Tycon Laksmhi Mittal, who is worth €15.5 billion, despite a fall in wealth of 27 per cent. Second on the list is Russian business magnate Alisher Usmanov, who is worth €15.1 billion, followed by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich who, despite a drop of 8 per cent, is still worth €11.6 billion.

Social media millionaires

Alisher Usmanov also tops the list of social media millionaires, due to investments in Facebook. Michael Moritz of LinkedIn is in second place, followed by Niklas Zennstrom of Skype and U2′s Bono, who has stakes in Facebook and Yelp.

The under-30s are faring fairly well too. Twenty-five year old Thomas Persson of the H&M empire is worth €859 million, topping the list of richest young people. Mashable founder Pete Cashmore, who’s 26, is number at number 7 and is a new entry on the list. Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint are at numbers 8, 17 and 18 respectively.

Singer Adele’s wealth has gone up a whopping 233 per cent. At 23-years-old she has sold 25 million copies of her second album worldwide, and is worth €24.5 million.

Meanwhile U2, Michael Flatley and Enya all made the list of the richest music millionaires in the UK and Ireland.

When it comes to the richest people in the world The Walton Family, who own Walmart, come out on top, with a fortune of €68.7 billion. They’re followed by Mexican telecoms giant Carlos Slim, and Microsoft’s Bill Gates at number three.

As well as calculating who has accumulated the most wealth, the Sunday Times has also taken a look at who has given the most. Topping the ‘Giving List’ is artist David Hockney, whose recent donations, mostly to the art world, come in at almost €96 million.

Notable names on the giving list include Sir Elton John, Sir Richard Branson and Simon Fuller.

U2, Sir Paul and… er Posh Spice make Sunday Times millionaire musicians list>

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Comments (29 Comments)

  • What good does a Rich List do? Does anyone on the list care about it? Why not a penis length comparison chart?

    Reply
  • Kevin 29/04/12 #

    Only decreased by 348 euro?

    Reply
    • Well spotted eagle eyes :) Fixed now,

      Thanks, Emer

      Reply
    • Only €2.6 billion Denis??
      Tut!
      Tut!
      Tut!

      You still haven’t beaten the farmer from Derrylin (at his peak)
      Even with all your cosy relationships and not to mention your ”offshore” activities.

      Ah well, you’ll just have to get your ”media empire” journalists to try to ruin his reputation instead.
      Heaven you might even get a few million from IBRC’s and NAMA’s PR department to help with this ”cause”.
      Sher they’re running on the taxpayers dime now.

      Reply
    • Jeff 30/04/12 #

      Denis is worth how much ???? Is that 2.6bn net of Debt ?… I wonder….

      Reply
  • They can’t bring it with them

    Reply
    • Wouldnt mind having it while you’re here though would you?

      Reply
    • Why wouldn’t he (Bono) be one of the richest! It was the Irish people that got him where he is today. Loyal fans. Handy that he can earn so much money and not give some of it back to Ireland and his fans, by not having his residence/address here. Cannot stand the man. Squirt!

      Reply
    • @shielabyrne Totally and utterly nothing to do with Irish people that U2 & Bono have been successful. They toured the length and breadth of the US and made it big through their own hard work and creativity. Nothing to do with Ireland and begrudgers like you. Bono has actually been as good as spokesperson and promoter of Ireland than anyone and I am amazed he bothers to live here at all with ignoramuses like you. Join Begrudgers Anonymous.

      Reply
    • @frankcomments

      Fortunately, Ireland is a democracy and we’re allowed an opinion. That’s my opinion whether you like it or not. I refuse to name call anyone on these treads because it’s a great place for discussion. Unfortunately, it allows people like you to name call and be aggressive towards others. This will be the only reply I give to you and I would advise you to respect others opinions as much as you think that you are right and I am wrong. I am none of names you just called me. You have not upset me and I will not loose sleep over it either.

      Have a good life Mr. Frankcomments

      Reply
    • Agree with both of your comments Sheila!

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    • @shielabyrne. It’s an opinion born out of ignorance. Glad u r not upset. Because that wasn’t my intention. Bono gets a huge amount of name calling as you call it (though squirt is probably nicer). Read up about the man. Inform yourself to the reality. Democracy also offers free access to information.

      Reply
    • @frank comments

      How dare you say that U2′s success has nothing to do with the Irish people/fans. I am not a fan, never was, can’t stand him, nothing against the rest of the band. Just him. You are totally wrong in saying that it wasn’t the Irish they made him ‘rich’ and famous.

      Two people in particular, my brothers-in-law have followed them since they were really young teens. Saved their pocked money, then worked Saturday jobs to follow them wherever they were. Now in their 40′s they still follow them.

      Reply
  • A 1% tax on that wealth is 3 times the total household charge potential intake. Tough times for Ireland’s mega rich.

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    • the main reason these taxes aren’t brought in is that a lot of these mega rich people would (in the taxation sense ) leave Ireland decreasing the overall amount tax revenue… even when they have more money than some people could dream of, they still aren’t willing to part with a miniscule amount unfortunately

      Reply
    • Introduce capital controls which don’t allow them to depart with their wealth. Plus you don’t need to tax the cash in their bank accounts, I doubt that money is located in Ireland anyway. Tax their properties, assets, etc,.

      Reply
    • Tax earnings, capital gains & consumption by all means but taxing wealth is a recipe for disaster. Even if we could stop folk taking their money out of this country (which we can’t as members of the EU!!), this country has an inflow of hundreds of billions of capital from other countries each year, which we get to tax!!!!

      If all countries applied what you just advocated for Ireland, our net tax take would be actually down very significantly year on year.

      Reply
  • If we introduce a Jimbo tax we will be quids in.

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  • No Sheila! It was touring the world that made U2 what they are today! To be really successful it’s very important for bands to break into the US market and make it here. So it was all those legions of U2 fans over here that made Bono and his bandmates rich and successful!

    Reply
    • Agreed. It was Bono who got Bono to where he is today. And it is really worth recognizing the working class background he came from. He was not born the “Bono” we know today.

      I wish he’d shout up occasionally though…. :)

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    • @Declan Noonan,

      No Declan! It was the 1,000′s of Irish youth that made him. It was the Irish youth that went to their local halls and paid to hear them play all those years ago! It was the Irish youth, fans that helped him get where he is today. I know where he’s from, I know where he lived, up the road from my in-laws and maybe he should remember that sometimes! Then the Irish fans got him to the UK, then Europe, then the US and now the world. Yes, he probably does work, play and is paid lots. But whether you like it on not in the US, it was the Irish youth that made him!

      good night

      Reply
    • @sheila god you’re annoying. Jealousy and begrudgery gets you nowhere

      Reply
  • Ok Shiela that’s true what you say. However here they are today making a lot of money from all over the world. Is it right for the Irish govt to tax someone on money that was made somewhere else? That’s what it comes down to.

    Reply
    • @Declan Noonan,

      That’s all I’m saying, good luck to him and Dennis O’Brien, but ‘Bono’ could do something for the youth now, in Ireland. The unemployed, the lost, the kids that could make it if they just had someone to put a bit of time and money into them. They were there for him when he was in his early 20′s. That’s all I’m saying. I’m not bitter or jealous, I have no need to feel either those feelings as one person has accused me of being. I am quite happy with my lot, my life, I have little, but most importantly, I have my health and two kids. That’s all one needs. I’m a bit old to be ‘jealous’!

      Reply
  • It’s a great business model once you’ve got the country addicted to smart phones.
    Monthly recurring charges and great retail opportunities every few years when built-in obsolescence makes you buy a new mobile device.

    Reply
  • @Graham Carrick

    Ha ha, don’t get upset or angry with me Graham, it’s just my opinion I’m entitled to it as much as the next person, whether that person is saying that Bono is great or not. I don’t want to upset you.

    I’m far from being jealous or begrudging. If you knew me, you wouldn’t accuse me of those things. I haven’t called you silly or childish names. If you don’t like what my opinion is don’t post insults to me. Just ignore me.

    Have a nice day. I’m not angry with you or hate you.

    Reply
  • jimbo 29/04/12 #

    Chunk change to him

    Reply

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