Flying taxis, animal pharmaceuticals and electric heaters are just some of the sectors which have helped some of Northern Ireland’s richest people make The Sunday Times Rich List.
Leading the pack is Belfast-born founder of OVO energy Stephen Fitzpatrick who has become a billionaire with an estimate fortune of £1.34 billion, a jump of £665 million on last year.
A serial entrepreneur and now living in England, Mr Fitzpatrick co-founded OVO with his wife Sophie in 2009, building the business as a disruptor in the highly competitive energy market to become one of the biggest suppliers of gas and electricity to the domestic market.
He is also behind Vertical Aerospace, the Bristol-based company developing zero emission vertical takeoff air taxis and was previously the owner of the Manor Marussia Formula One team.
Although counting a significant fortune, Mr Fitzpatrick’s wealth places him at just 132 nd on the Sunday Times Rich List which is led by Sri and Gopi Hinduja in the top spot with £28 billion followed by Sir James Dyson with £23 billion and David and Simon Reuben with £22 billion.
The next placed Northern Ireland representative is Lady Ballyedmund and family at 144 who own Newry animal pharmaceutical company Norbrook. They have a reported wealth of £1.247 billion, unchanged from the previous year.
Another Newry native Martin Naughton and family, who are behind electric appliance manufacturer Glen Dimplex, were placed 208 th and saw their fortune climb by £58 million to £800 million.
Others to make the list include Chancellor Rishi Sunak and wife Akshata Murty, who were ranked at 222 with a fortune of £730 million.
In total, the 250 names on the rich list are worth £711 billion, an increase of 8% on the year.
