Reuters

LONDON – Brutally honest Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell, who delights in insulting wannabe singers on both sides of the Atlantic in the hit talent show, is the pop world’s star riser in the latest Sunday Times Rich List.

Cowell, who once told a contestant “You remind me of a pet poodle”, has an estimated wealth of £100 million pounds ($NZ269,000,000) – up from £60 million last year. He has overtaken singer Robbie Williams.

David Beckham, who has signed a five-year deal with the Los Angeles Galaxy football (soccer) team, maintains his position as the world’s richest soccer player, increasing his wealth by £25 million to £112 million.

The wealthiest man in Britain is steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who has increased his fortune to more than £19 billion.

Britain is a magnet for billionaires from all over the world, with inherited, home-grown wealth now very much in the minority – The Duke of Westminster is the only one of the five wealthiest in the list to be born in Britain.

EasyJet’s Stelios Haji-Ioannou, who is being interviewed on Thursday evening in an ITV programme about the rich list, is closing the gap with Richard Branson – he has broken the billionaire barrier and is now worth £1.29 billion.