Forbes magazine and The Sunday Times newspaper (top 350 only) have revealed their 2026 Rich Lists. As a result, I have updated below the list for the richest people in the Drinks Industry, based both in the UK and other locations worldwide where updated sources were available…
1 – Bernard Arnault and family (LVMH) – worth £112bn (down vs. LY)
Bernard Arnault is the CEO of French luxury brands conglomerate LVMH, and still the richest man in the world to have vested interests in the drinks trade with a personal fortune of over £30bn. He has previously proposed a reorganisation of his holding company (Agache), which also has interests in fashion and retail, to give equal stakes to his five children.
The LVMH portfolio includes high-end Champagne brands Dom Perignon, Moët & Chandon, Krug, Veuve Clicquot, as well as Château d’Yquem, in addition to fashion brands including Louis Vuitton, Dior and Fendi. As of 2025, LVMH’s Wines & Spirits division generated €4.61 billion in revenue, accounting for approximately 6.4% of the group’s total revenue of €83.5 billion. Bernard Arnault and his family own 48.6% of LVMH’s shares, equating to a stake in the Wines & Spirits division worth approximately €7.8 billion. Given Bernard Arnault’s estimated net worth of £112 billion, the Wines & Spirits division represents about 7% of his total wealth.
2 – Bacardi family (Bacardi) – worth £15bn (no change) estimate
Bacardi Limited boasts a diverse portfolio of over 200 brands, including Bacardí rum, Grey Goose vodka, Patrón tequila, Dewar’s Scotch whisky, Bombay Sapphire gin. The company remains entirely family-owned, with the Bacardi family overseeing its operations across seven generations.
3 – Jorge Paulo Lemann (AB Inbev) – worth £14.7bn (down vs. LY)
In 1989, the Brazilian-born Lemann took over the Brazilian brewer Brahma and grew this through numerous acquisitions to the world’s largest beer company AB InBev. To this day, he is one of the main shareholders and the management is dominated by his people. Although Lemann’s wealth is predominantly derived from his significant holdings in AB InBev, known for brands such as Budweiser, Stella Artois, and Corona. Through 3G Capital, Lemann has also played a pivotal role in major acquisitions, including Burger King, Kraft Heinz, and Tim Hortons.
4 – Brown family (Brown-Forman) – worth £12.2bn (down vs. LY)
The Brown family owns an estimated 50% of Brown-Forman. Campbell Brown, a 5th-generation family member, chairs its board. The family’s substantial ownership stake translates to a significant portion of the company value, underpinning their considerable wealth.
5 – Pierre Castel (Castel Frères) – worth £10.4bn (down vs. LY)
Castel founded the company in 1949 and wine is central to the French group’s portfolio, owning 21 estates in Bordeaux and Provence, including controlling shares in Château Beychevelle, as well as numerous brands from lands it owns across France and also Morocco, Tunisia and Ethiopia and big négociant houses such as Barton & Guestier and Patriarche.
The real money-spinner though is beer. Before it was acquired by AB InBev, SAB Miller had formed a partnership with Castel whereby SAB owned 20% of Castel and Castel owned 38% of SAB’s African business. Pierre Castel’s wealth is primarily derived from his ownership of Groupe Castel, a privately held company. The group’s extensive portfolio includes well-known brands such as Baron de Lestac, La Villageoise, and 33 Export beer. The Frenchman Castel is the richest of French tax exiles, given that he is a Switzerland resident.
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken took over from father Freddy Heineken after his death in 2002 as controlling shareholder of the Dutch brewer with a 23% stake — a role she describes as being “a guardian” of the company founded by her great-grandfather in 1864. Alexander, the oldest of her five children, is on the board of the holding company. Heineken is the second largest brewer in the world with Amstel, Bulmers Cider, Tiger Beer, Red Stripe, Strongbow Cider and Newcastle Brown Ale. They also have a 10% stake in Double Dutch Drinks, a London-based maker of tonics and mixers.
“Yes, I didn’t like the fact that my name was on every cafe when I was at school, but that’s OK now.” Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken
7 – Gallo Family (E. & J. Gallo Winery) – worth £9.2bn (NEW entry)
8 – Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi (Thai Beverage) – worth £9.1bn
Thailand’s largest brewer, known for its Chang beer. International Beverage Holdings Limited was established in 2006 as the international arm of ThaiBev, and its products sell in more than 80 countries around the world. Among the brands in its extensive portfolio are Chang beer, Caorunn gin, Old Pulteney scotch whisky and a range of Chinese wines and Chinese and Thai spirits. In 2025, Charoen initiated a succession plan by transferring significant holdings to his five children. 
9 – Jude Reyes (Reyes Holdings) – £8.9bn (down vs. LY)
Reyes Holdings is a privately held company and one of the largest food and beverage distribution firms in the United States, with annual revenues exceeding $40 billion. The company operates across various sectors, including beer distribution, foodservice logistics, and bottling operations.
10 – Saji and Torii families (Suntory Global Spirits) – worth £7.8bn (up vs. LY)
Chairman Nobutada Saji’s grandfather made Suntory Holdings a household name in Japan. Founded by Shinjiro Torii in 1899, the company’s family ownership helped Saji’s ability to acquire US distiller Beam back in 2014, and the result is global drinks giant Beam Suntory, renamed to Suntory Global Spirits in 2024. Nobutada Saji himself has a personal worth of an estimated £980m.
Saji’s nephew Nobuhiro Torii (pictured above), a great grandson of Suntory’s founder, was promoted to COO and executive vice president of Suntory Holdings in 2016.
11 – Maria Asuncion Aramburuzabala & family (Grupo Modelo/ AB Inbev) – worth £6.9bn (down vs. LY)
Maria Asuncion Aramburuzabala is by far México’s best known businesswoman. She serves on the board of beer giant Anheuser-Busch InBev. She inherited a stake in beer giant Grupo Modelo with her mother and sister from her father. Grupo Modelo was sold to AB InBev in 2013 for $20 billion.
12 – Alexander Ricard & family (Pernod Ricard) – worth £6.5bn (up vs. LY)
The family behind the global drinks giant Pernod Ricard was created in 1973 when two of France’s leading “anise-based spirits producers, Pernod and Ricard, merged in 1973. By 1976 it began to diversify its portfolio and acquired Irish Distillers (the maker of Jameson) in 1988 and Jacob’s Creek in 1989. In 2001 its acquisition of 40% of the Seagram’s business brought Chivas, Martell and The Glenlivet into its portfolio and the Champagne brands came in 2005 with the acquisition of Allied Domecq; a move which also made it the world’s second largest wine and spirits company.
The Ricard family holds a significant stake in Pernod Ricard, owning about 14.05% of the company’s capital and controlling 20.71% of the voting rights. This ownership structure underscores their substantial influence over the company, which is the world’s second-largest wine and spirits seller. Alexander Ricard has been serving as the Chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard since 2015, continuing the family’s legacy in leading the company.
13 – Max Van Hoegaerden Hermann Telles (AB Inbev) – worth £5.5bn (NEW entry)
Max Van Hoegaerden Herrmann Telles is the son of Marcel Hermann Telles, a founding partner in Brazilian investing firm 3G Capital.
14 – Carlos Alberto Sicupira (AB Inbev) – worth £5.2bn (down vs. LY)
Most of Carlos “Beto” Sicupira’s wealth comes from his shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s largest brewer, in which he owns about a 3% stake. Sicupira resides in St. Gallen, Switzerland, and is known for his philanthropic endeavours, particularly in supporting educational and social causes in Brazil.
15 – Glenn Gordon & family (William Grant & Sons) – worth £4.8bn (down vs. LY)
The family behind William Grant & Sons remains in buoyant health.
William Grant & Sons was founded by the Grant Gordon family in 1887 and has grown to become one of the leading players in the international spirits trade. The company produces some of the world’s leading brands of Scotch whisky, including Glenfiddich, The Balvenie and Grant’s. In addition, it also produces Irish whiskey Tullamore D.E.W and the Drambuie liqueur brand. In 2024, the company expanded its portfolio by acquiring The Famous Grouse and Naked Malt brands. The business has been chaired since 2012 by Jersey-based Glenn Gordon, 60, the founder’s great-great-grandson. The family ranks in Scotland as one of country’s wealthiest. Founder William Grant pictured below (extreme left).


16 – William Goldring & family (Sazerac) – worth £4.5bn (down vs. LY)
Chairman of Sazerac Company, one of New Orleans’s oldest, largest, and most successful family businesses.
17 – Anthony von Mandl (Mark Anthony Brands) – worth £4.2bn (down vs. LY)
Anthony von Mandl (pictured below) created the ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages White Claw Hard Seltzer and Mike’s Hard Lemonade through his Mark Anthony Brands. These products have significantly impacted the alcoholic beverage market, particularly in North America. 
18 – Bert Beveridge (Tito’s vodka) – worth £4.1bn (up vs. LY)
Bert “Tito” Beveridge is the founder and sole owner of of Fifth Generation Inc., the company behind Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Tito’s vodka is one of the fastest growing spirits brands in America.
“If someone tells me my brand isn’t a craft-distilled spirit because it’s too big, I just say, ‘I make it the same way I’ve always made it. I just have a lot more stills.'” Bert Beveridge
Beveridge started the company in 1997 with $90,000 borrowed using 19 credit cards. He slept on floors and couches while he built the business. 
19 – Dominique Heriard Dubreuil family (Remy Cointreau) – worth £3.6bn (up vs. LY)
The family’s holding company, Orpar SA, holds over 40% of Rémy Cointreau’s share capital and more than 45% of its voting rights, underscoring their influential position within the company.
20 – Beatriz Davila de Santo Domingo (AB Inbev) – worth £3.5bn (down vs. LY)
Beatriz is the widow of Colombian beer baron Julio Mario Santo Domingo, who died in 2011.
Xu Jin’s wealth primarily stems from his significant ownership stake in Anhui Kouzi Distillery, a prominent Chinese baijiu producer. As of September 2024, he owns approximately 116 million shares, representing about 19.34% of the company’s total equity.
22 – Alexandre van Damme (Jupiler beer/ AB Inbev) – worth £3.34bn (up vs. LY)
The richest heir of the Piedboeuf family, the family’s legacy in the brewing industry dates back to 1812 with the founding of the Piedboeuf Brewery in Jupille-sur-Meuse, Belgium. In 1966, they introduced Jupiler, which has become Belgium’s best-selling beer. The brewery merged with Artois in 1987 to form Interbrew, a precursor to AB InBev.
23 – Wirtz family (Breakthru Beverage) – worth £3.2bn (NEW entry)
24 – Alejandro Santo Domingo (AB Inbev) – worth £2.8bn (down vs. LY)
The majority of his wealth stems from a stake in Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), the world’s largest brewer. This stake was acquired when the Santo Domingo family’s former company, Bavaria Brewery, merged with SABMiller in 2005, and subsequently, SABMiller merged with AB InBev in 2016.
25 – Wang Junlin (Sichuan Langjiu) – worth £2.67bn (down vs. LY)
Wang Junlin chairs Sichuan Langjiu, one of China’s largest spirits suppliers. His wealth stems primarily from his significant stake in Langjiu Group, one of China’s leading producers of baijiu, a traditional Chinese distilled spirit. He holds a 76.7% ownership in the company. Langjiu is recognised as one of the top six baijiu brands in Sichuan province, alongside renowned names like Kweichow Moutai and Wuliangye.
26 – Wu Xiangdong (ZJLD Group) – £2.37bn (down vs. LY)
Wu Xiangdong is the founder and chairman of liquor maker ZJLD Group, a leading Chinese liquor company specialising in baijiu. The company’s successful IPO in Hong Kong in 2023 valued it at around $4.5 billion USD. In addition to ZJLD Group, Wu chairs Vats Liquor, a prominent liquor store chain in China, further contributing to his substantial net worth.
Duke Reyes, along with his brothers J. Christopher Reyes and Jude Reyes, co-founded Reyes Holdings in 1976. While his brothers serve as co-chairmen, Duke Reyes leads as CEO, overseeing the company’s expansive operations.
28 – Robert Sands (Constellation Brands) – worth £2.23bn (down vs. LY)
Richard and Robert Sands’ father, Marvin, founded a humble wine business in 1945 at age 21. That small operation has grown into a publicly traded behemoth now called Constellation Brands, which generates over $7 billion in annual revenue. Subsidiaries include Robert Mondavi wine and Svedka Vodka. Constellation also holds the rights to Grupo Modelo’s U.S. beer business, including its Modelo and Corona labels.
29 – Luca Garavoglia (Campari Group) – worth £2.1bn (no change)
Following the passing of his mother, Rosa Anna Magno Garavoglia, in 2016, Luca assumed control of Alicros, the holding company that owns 51% of Campari’s equity and a majority of its voting rights.
30 – Marcel Herrmann Telles & family (AB Inbev) – worth £2.08bn (down vs. LY)
Marcel Hermann Telles (pictured below, far right) is one of the controlling shareholders of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s largest brewer, of which he owns a minority stake. Telles continues to serve on the board of AB InBev and maintains significant influence over the company’s strategic direction. In December 2023, Telles transferred a substantial portion of his AB InBev stake, valued at approximately US$6.1 billion, to his son, Max Van Hoegaerden Herrmann Telles, as part of a succession plan.
31 – Richard Sands (Constellation Brands) – worth £2bn (down vs. LY)
33 – Charles Bronfman (Seagram’s) – worth £1.85bn (down vs. LY)
Charles Bronfman is long removed from the 2000 deal in which he and nephew Edgar Jr. sold their family’s Seagram spirits to Vivendi for $34 billion.
34 – Alessandra Garavoglia (Campari Group) – worth £1.85bn (up vs. LY)
35 – Jean-Pierre Cayard (La Martiniquaise) – worth £1.8bn (down vs. LY)
Jean-Pierre Cayard’s father founded spirits group La Martiniquaise in 1934.
Jean-Pierre, now President, joined in 1970 and has turned it into one of France’s largest spirits groups, with a portfolio of international brands. Its brands include Porto Cruz, a leading Port; Label 5 scotch whiskey brand; and Poliakov, France’s top-selling vodka. More recently they have also acquired the Cutty Sark blended scotch whisky brand.
The private company, which he owns, has 24 production sites and 27 subsidiaries throughout the world.
36 – Florian Rehm (Mast-Jägermeister SE) – worth £1.8bn (NEW entry)
Florian Rehm is majority owner and chairman of the supervisory board of Mast-Jägermeister SE, a German liquor company.
37 – Sergei Studennikov (Krasnoye & Beloy) – worth £1.65bn (down vs. LY)
Sergei Studennikov is the founder and majority owner of the Russian retail chain Krasnoe & Beloe (Red & White).
His wealth is primarily derived from his significant stake in Mercury Retail Holding, the parent company of Krasnoe & Beloe, which he co-founded in 2006. The company has experienced rapid growth, expanding to over 20,000 stores across 76 regions of Russia by 2024. In 2022, Mercury Retail reported revenues of 993 billion rubles, with a net profit exceeding 48 billion rubles, making it one of the most profitable retail companies in Russia.
38 – Andres Santo Domingo (AB Inbev) – worth £1.56bn (up vs. LY)
While his brother, Alejandro Santo Domingo, actively manages the family’s investments and serves on the board of AB InBev, Andrés has pursued interests in the music industry. He co-founded Kemado Records and is involved in various cultural and philanthropic endeavours.
39 – Wu Shaoxun (Jing Brand) – worth £1.5bn (no change)
40 – Juan Domingo Beckmann Legorreta & family (Jose Cuervo) – worth £1.48bn (down vs. LY)
Beckmann Vidal is chairman of Mexican tequila maker Jose Cuervo, which went public in February 2017 and raised more than $900 million. The company owns Latin America’s oldest active distillery, in the Mexican town of Tequila.
Jose Cuervo has been in the same family for 11 generations. Beckmann Vidal’s son, Juan Domingo Beckmann Legorreta (pictured above), serves as CEO. Juan inherited a nearly 51% stake in tequila firm Becle S.A.B., maker of Jose Cuervo, from his father Juan Francisco Beckmann.
41 – Yang Tingdong (Jiangsu Yanghe Brewery) – worth £1.25bn (down vs. LY)
Yang Tingdong’s wealth primarily stems from his significant stake in Jiangsu Yanghe Distillery, a leading Chinese baijiu producer.
42 – Lalit Khaitan (Radico Khaitan) – worth £1.2bn (no change)
Liquor baron Lalit Khaitan is chairman of the publicly traded spirits maker Radico Khaitan. Radico Khaitan, established in 1943 as Rampur Distillery, is one of India’s oldest and largest manufacturers of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL). The company’s shares experienced a significant surge of over 50% in 2023, driven by increased sales and the successful launch of new products.
43 – Christina Flügel (Mast-Jägermeister SE) – worth £1.2bn (NEW entry)
Christina Flügel is a fifth-generation member of the Mast-Jägermeister family fortune.
44 – Jim Koch (The Boston Beer Company) – worth £1.1bn (no change)
Jim (James) Koch created Samuel Adams beer in 1984 and has since been known as a founding father of the American craft brewery movement.

45 – Molson family (Molson Coors Brewing) – worth £1.1bn (up vs. LY)
The Molsons have been able to maintain a powerful position in the beer industry over seven generations. The company is a result of the 2005 merger between Molson and Coors and it is spending US$12 billion to purchase full control of the MillerCoors joint venture, which includes global rights to the Miller brand name. Both Geoff Molson (pictured above) and Andrew Molson are involved in the brewery. 
46 – Frank family (Grey Goose proceeds / Sidney Frank Importing) – worth £1.1bn (NEW entry) estimate
47 – Antinori family (Marchesi Antinori) – worth £1.1bn (NEW entry) estimate
48 – Simon family (Bitburger Brewery) – worth £1.1bn (NEW entry) estimate
49 – Ni Yongpei & family (Anhui Yingjia Distillery) – worth £1.04bn (down vs. LY)
Ni Yongpei has been serving as Yingjia Group’s Chairman since 2003, but his career in baijiu started when he was just a teenager. At age 18, he was working at a local distillery in Anhui called Huoshan distillery, which later became Yingjia. Ni and his family reportedly control about 24.84% of Yingjia shares.
50 – Chopin & Glazer families (Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits) – worth £1bn (NEW entry) estimate
51 – Karen Virginia Beckmann Legorreta (Jose Cuervo) – worth £1bn (down vs. LY)
Karen inherited a nearly 36% stake in Becle S.A.B., maker of Jose Cuervo tequila, from her father, Juan Francisco Beckmann Vidal.
Vera inherited a significant portion of the Santo Domingo family’s wealth following her husband’s passing in 2009. She controls about 11% of the family’s Luxembourg-based holding company, which owns shares in Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), the world’s largest brewer.
55 – Yuri Shefler (S.P.I. Group/ Stolichnaya vodka) – worth £820m (down vs. LY)
Yuri Shefler is owner of S.P.I. Group, which produces and sells alcohol under 380 brands in 160 countries. Its best known brand is Stolichnaya vodka, which Shefler bought from state-owned VVO Soyuzplodoimport for $285,000 in 1997. Russia’s Supreme Court ruled the sale illegal in 2001, banning Shefler from selling the vodka inside its borders. In 2014, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium joined Russia in banning sales of Stolichnaya.
S.P.I. owns rum company Louisiana Spirits Company, tequila company Fabrica de Tequilas Finos in Mexico and wine producer Achaval Ferrer in Argentina. Factors contributing to variations in his wealth include legal disputes over trademark rights, such as the long-standing contention with Russian state-owned company FKP Sojuzplodoimport regarding the ownership of the Stolichnaya and Moskovskaya brands.
Her grandfather, Marvin Sands, founded the wine business in 1945.
Zhang Yubai’s wealth primarily stems from his leadership role in Yanghe Group, a prominent Chinese producer of baijiu, a traditional Chinese spirit.
59 – Richard Yuengling, Jr. (D.G. Yuengling & Son Brewery) – worth £740m (down vs. LY)
60 – Adriano and Alexandre Schincariol (Schincariol) – worth £600m (down vs. LY)
The Schincariol brothers amassed their wealth through their significant stake in Schincariol, which was Brazil’s second-largest beer producer. In 2011, they sold their 50.45% controlling interest in the company to Japan’s Kirin Holdings for BRL 3.95 billion.
61 – Susanne Veltins (Veltins Brewery) – worth £590m (NEW entry)
62 – Cramer family (Warsteiner Brewery) – worth £500m (NEW entry)
63 – Schadeberg family (Krombacher Brewery) – worth £460m (NEW entry)
64 – James Watt (BrewDog) – worth £425m (no change)
65 – Humphrey Smith (Samuel Smith Old Brewery) – worth £400m (NEW entry) estimate
66 – Martin Dickie (BrewDog) – worth £398m (no change)
67 – Gilberto Schincariol Junior (Schincariol) – worth £345m (down vs. LY)
Gilberto, along with his siblings Daniela Maria Schincariol Medina and José Augusto Schincariol, inherited a 49.54% stake in Schincariol through their holding company, Jadangil Participações e Representações Ltda. In 2011, they sold this stake to Japan’s Kirin Holdings, completing the acquisition of the entire company.
68 – Jonathan Neame & family (Shepherd Neame) – worth £240m (NEW entry) estimate
The West Lothian-based Ian Macleod Distiller’s financial performance has been robust, with net assets reported at £199 million as of 2024.
70 – David McMullen & family (McMullen & Sons Brewery) – worth £215m (up vs. LY) estimate
71 – Neville Cairns & family (Thatchers Cider) – worth £200m (NEW entry) estimate
72 – Michael Turner & Turner/ Fuller families (Fuller, Smith & Turner) – worth £200m (NEW entry) estimate
73 – Everardo Ferreira Telles (Ypioca) – worth £185m (down vs. LY)
Everardo Telles has implemented a succession plan, transferring ownership equally among his seven children. In January 2024, his daughter, Aline Telles, assumed the role of CEO, while his son, Paulo Telles, became vice-chairman of the board.
74 – Aaron and Tania Hillman & family (Angus Dundee Distillers) – worth £167m (up vs. LY) estimate
Led by brother and sister Aaron and Tania Hillman, the Hillman family owns Angus Dundee Distillers, which produces whisky from its Speyside-based Tomintoul and Eastern Highlands-based Glencadam distilleries. As early as 1948, Sidney Hillman formed a company with the name Burn Stewart and sold whisky from different producers. In time his son, Terence “Terry” Hillman joined and Burn Stewart remained in the family until it was sold in 1988. The same year Terry founded Angus Dundee Distillers with the same business concept – purchasing of whisky to be blended and sold on, today Terry is 87 years old and still sits on the company board which is controlled by his children, Aaron and Tania. Financially, Angus Dundee Distillers has demonstrated robust performance. As of June 2024, the company reported net assets of £246.5 million, with a turnover of £61.8 million.
75 – Tony and Barbara Laithwaite (Laithwaites Wine) – worth £162m (no change)
76 – The Urquhart Family (Gordon & MacPhail) – worth £160m (up vs. LY) estimate
The Urquhart family has maintained ownership and management of the company across four generations. In recent developments, Richard Urquhart, a fourth-generation family member, was appointed as Sales Director in March 2025, reflecting the family’s ongoing commitment to the business
77 – Mark and Anthony Woodhouse and family (Hall & Woodhouse Brewery) – worth £157m (up vs. LY)
Hall & Woodhouse, established in 1777 in Blandford Forum, Dorset, is a family-owned brewery renowned for its Badger Ales and a portfolio of over 180 pubs across southern England. The company’s financial health is robust, with reported net assets of £134 million and a turnover of £121.8 million for the financial year ending January 2024.
78 – Joe Sloan & family (SHS) – worth £152m (no change)
The SHS Group, established in 1975 by Joe Sloan and Geoff Salters, is a Belfast-based food and drinks distribution company. It owns and distributes several well-known brands, including WKD, Shloer, and Merrydown Cider.
The company’s financial performance has been robust. As of December 2023, SHS Group reported a turnover of £664.8 million and net assets of £159.4 million.
79 – Tim Warrillow (Fever Tree) – worth £150m (down vs. LY)
80 – Sukhinder and Rajbir Singh (Elixir Distillers) – worth £147m (no change) estimate
Established in 2015, Elixir Distillers Ltd has demonstrated significant financial growth. As of June 2024, the company reported net assets of £147.68 million, marking a 43% increase from the previous year. The company’s total assets stood at £204.79 million, with a turnover of £12.88 million.
In 2021, the Singh brothers sold The Whisky Exchange, an online spirits retailer they founded in 1999, to Pernod Ricard with industry analysts estimating the deal to be worth up to £429 million. In 2022, Elixir Distillers acquired the Tormore Distillery from Pernod Ricard, further expanding their footprint in the Scotch whisky industry.

81 – Simon Theakston & family (Theakston Brewery) – worth £115m (NEW entry) estimate
82 – John Rudd & family (Berry Bros & Rudd) – worth £110m (no change) estimate
Established in 1698, the company largely handles wine, but sells spirits including No.3 London Dry Gin, and also bottles its own line of spirits.
83 – Charles Rolls (Fever Tree) – worth £105m (down vs. LY)
In 2004 Rolls launched his Fever-Tree Drinks brand with Tim Warrillow, having lamented the lack of high-quality mixers while running his Plymouth Gin business. Over the years, Rolls has sold portions of his stake in the company, including a 3.9% share for £73 million in May 2017 and a 2.6% share for £82.5 million in March 2018. Despite these sales, he retains a significant shareholding in Fever-Tree.
84 – Daniel Szor (The Cotswolds Distillery) – worth £100m (NEW entry) estimate
85 – Susie Williams & Harvey family (Harvey’s Brewery) – worth £95m (NEW entry) estimate
86 – Charlie Morgan and Jackson Quinn (AU Vodka) – worth £75m each (up vs. LY)

Note that for simplicity, I have excluded from the Rich List above people who have significant business interests in different areas and included only those who sole or main assets are within the Drinks Industry where possible (unless the assets derived from drinks were provided).
Sources used:
- The Sunday Times Rich List (UK) – requires subscription
- Challenges (France)
- Forbes magazine (USA)
- Canadian Business Magazine (Canada)
- The World’s Top Booze Billionaires (2021)
- ChatGPT (AI)




























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