Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay, who are both 84 and live in Brecqhou, own the likes of the Ritz London, Shop Direct, Littlewoods and Very.co.uk and are worth a total of £8 billion.
Jersey’s Glenn Gordon and family are, according to the new edition of The Sunday Times Rich List, second richest, with a 2019 wealth of £2.882 billion.
And Chris and Sarah Dawson from Jersey appear third on the CI list, with a fortune of £1.99 billion.
Last year Roman Abramovich topped the local rankings after being granted high value residency in Jersey. However, he never moved to the Island and is now based in Tel Aviv.
If the £9.333bn he was worth is discounted from the net worth of the Channel Island rich listers last year, this year actually sees an increase in wealth of 9.4%, with their collective net worth rising to £22.855bn from £20.894bn.
Robert Watts, the compiler of The Sunday Times Rich List, said: ‘Life in the Channel Islands offers some of the world’s wealthiest people seclusion, beautiful beaches and those rather well-known tax advantages. Super-rich residents spend well in the local economy, creating jobs on the islands as they gild their homes, use the wealth management industry, enjoy the restaurants and find other ways to spend their money.
‘But there is a balance to be struck here. It’s important that all islanders reap the benefits of having their well-heeled residents and the islands’ special character is not lost.’
Topshop tycoon Sir Philip Green, who is based in Jersey, features seventh in the list with a fortune of £950 million – down £1.05bn over the past year.
The Sunday Times Channel Islands Rich List
Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay (Brecqhou) 2019 wealth £8bn (Up £600m)
Glenn Gordon and family (Jersey) £2.882bn (Up £310m)
Chris and Sarah Dawson (Jersey) £1.99bn (Up £30m)
Douglas and Dame Mary Perkins and family (Guernsey) £1.8bn (Up £100m)
Steve Lansdown (Guernsey) £1.72bn (No change)
Simon Nixon (Jersey) £1.365bn (Up £115m)
Sir Philip and Lady Green (Jersey) £950m (Down £1.05bn)
Douw Steyn and family (Guernsey) £900m (No change)
The Clarke family (Jersey) £500m (No change)
Tony Buckingham (Jersey) £425m (No change)
Gordon Crawford (Jersey) £400m (No change)
Ray O’Rourke and family (Jersey) £337m (Up £31m)
Graham Tuckwell (Jersey) £314m (Up £45m)
Guy and Julia Hands (Guernsey) £265m (No change)
James Vernon (Jersey) £256m (No change)
Richard Griffiths (Jersey) £240m (Down £60m)
David Crossland and family (Jersey) £200m (No change)
Derek Coates (Guernsey) £190m (No change)
Con Folkes and family (Jersey) £121m (No change)
