Three Israelis Rank Among Sunday Times’ Top 50 U.K. Richest People List for 2019

Top among them in ninth place is Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, who sought and received Israeli citizenship in 2018 when the U.K. refused to extend his visa

On Saturday, the Sunday Times published its annual ranking for the U.K.’s top 1,000 richest people, naming three Israeli businessmen among its top 50.

 

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In ninth place, up from last year’s 13, is Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich with GBP 11.221 billion ($14.6 billion). Abramovich made his fortune in the oil and gas industry but is best known today for his ownership of Premier League football club Chelsea F.C. After a long period of living in the U.K., he sought and received Israeli citizenship in 2018 when the U.K. refused to extend his visa, making him the richest Israeli citizen to date.

 

Roman Abramovich. Photo: AFP

 

Idan Ofer rose seven places to 43, with an estimated worth of GBP 3.5 billion ($4.55 billion). The son of Israeli shipping magnate Sammy Ofer, Ofer operates mainly in the domains of shipping, drilling, and mining. He also owns a stake in Portuguese second league soccer club Futebol Clube de Famalicão and Spanish soccer team Club Atlético de Madrid.

 

Teddy Sagi came in at 47th place, up five spots from last year, with an estimated worth of GBP 3.07 ($3.99 billion). In 1999 he founded London-listed online gambling software developer Playtech PLC, which currently trades at a market capitalization of GBP 1.23 billion, though Sagi sold his last stake in the company in November 2018. Under his company LabTech Investments Ltd., Sagi owns London’s Camden Market, for which he paid GBP 400 million in 2014, as well as several other high-profile London properties. He also owns Labs, a shared office venture, and three technology assets: mobile ad tech company Glispa Global Group, Tel Aviv-based e-commerce marketing company Stucco Media Ltd., and online fashion retailer everything5pounds.com.