David Beckham becomes first British billionaire sportsman

Beckham and his wife Victoria’s collective wealth reached the milestone this year, according to The Sunday Times Rich List.Former Manchester United and England football star David Beckham has become Britain’s first billionaire sportsman, according to the 2026 Sunday Times Rich List.Beckham and his wife Victoria’s collective wealth reached an estimated 1.185 billion pounds ($1.583bn) this year, the Rich List compilers said.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Mitoma fails to make Japan’s 2026 World Cup squad due to hamstring injurylist 2 of 4FIFA World Cup 2026: What to expect from the new 48-team formatlist 3 of 4Saudi investment fund seals FIFA deal as official World Cup 2026 supporterlist 4 of 4Iran still waiting for US visas less than a month before World Cupend of listThat moved them into second place in the list of the United Kingdom’s wealthiest sportspeople, behind the family of ex-Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, whose wealth was valued at 2 billion pounds ($2.7bn).Beckham, who retired from playing in 2013, is a co-owner of Inter Miami, estimated to be Major League Soccer’s most valuable club at 1.07 billion pounds ($1.4bn).The 51-year-old also has lucrative brand ambassador roles for companies including Adidas and Hugo Boss.Beckham captained England and won the Premier League and Champions League during a glittering career with United, before spells at Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.Victoria Beckham’s wealth has largely been generated from her fashion label after she originally found fame as a member of pop band The Spice Girls.Joining Beckham on the Rich List, seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton is fifth on the list, having built a fortune the Rich List calculated at 435 million pounds ($582m).Reigning Masters golf champion Rory McIlroy is seventh with a 325 million-pound ($435m) valuation.Boxer Anthony Joshua is placed at eighth with a fortune of 240 million pounds ($321m), one place above his heavyweight rival Tyson Fury, who is ninth on 162 million pounds ($217m).