LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Former Manchester United and England 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 (US$1.583 billion) this year, the Rich List compilers said.

That moved them into second place in the list of the United Kingdom’s (UK) wealthiest sportspeople, behind the family of ex-Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, whose wealth was valued at £2 billion.