Betting websites claim Sunday Times online Rich List

by Dan Leahul, Brand Republic 

LONDON - The Sunday Times internet Rich List is dominated by online gambling websites this year, claiming nearly half the top 10, including Party Gaming founders Russell De Leon and Ruth Parasol, in second place with £700m.

Party Gaming, which owns PartyPoker.com and is listed on the London Stock Exchange, put four executives in the top 10, including group operations director Anurag Dikshit and marketing director Vikrant Bhargava, both primary shareholders who ranked 3rd (£559m) and 9th (£230m) respectively.

Bet365 founders Peter and Denise Coates, placed 6th on the list, are worth an estimated £400m for their Stoke-based operation.

Online bet exchange Betfair placed three execs in the top 20, including founders Ed Wray at 11th (£190m) and Andrew Black at 12th (£185m). Equity investment manager Richard Koch placed 17th on the list with a Betfair stake worth (£129m).

However, Peter Cruddas, founder and owner of internet securities dealer CMC topped the internet rich list once more, worth an estimated £1bn.

Web hosting services firm Planet Online was also represented in the top 10 with founder Peter Sykes at 4th (£550m) and investor Peter Wilkinson at 7th (£301m).

The online top 10 was rounded out by Google's Michael Moritz in 5th (£470m), Bebo's Michael and Xochi Berch at 8th (£250m) and Miniclip founder Tihan Presbie at 10th (£196m).

The Sunday Times annual Rich List, which examines the wealth of the Britain's richest 1,000, was hard hit by the recession this year.

The slow down in the global economy wiped £155bn from last year's list, the biggest fall since it was first compiled 21 years ago.

Sir Martin Sorrell, the chief executive of WPP Group, saw his fortune shrivel by £23m to £83m. Sorrell's WPP stake is worth £63m, he also has other interests.

Steel industry magnate Laskshmi Mittal remained on the top of the list this year, despite being 2009's biggest loser, watching over £16.9bn evaporate from his empire.

Mittal, still worth over £10bn, was followed by Roman Abramovich, who lost £4.7bn of his wealth this year but still managed to keep £7bn.

Article from BrandRepublic (advertising and PR online hub).

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