The latest Sunday Times Tax List has revealed the individuals and families who paid the most tax in the UK last year — and the figures make for eye-watering reading.
At a time when wealth, regulation and “fair share” debates dominate headlines, this list shows exactly who is underwriting a huge chunk of public spending.
The Top 10 UK Taxpayers (According to the Sunday Times)
- Fred and Peter Done and family – Betfred – £400.1m
- Alex Gerko – Trader – £331.4m
- Chris Rokos – Bond trader – £330m
- Stephen Rubin and family – Chair of Pentland Group – £325.6m
- Denise, John and Peter Coates – bet365 – £227.1m
- Peter Hargreaves – £210m
- Tom Morris and family – Home Bargains – £209.1m
- Tim Martin – JD Wetherspoon – £199.7m
- Mike Ashley – Retail – £175.9m
- Dame Mary, Douglas Perkins and family – Specsavers – £121.7m
Gambling, Trading and Retail Lead the Way
Sitting comfortably at number one are Fred and Peter Done, whose Betfred empire continues to generate enormous revenues across both high-street and online betting. Their £400.1m tax contribution alone dwarfs the GDP of some small towns.
The financial markets also loom large. Alex Gerko and Chris Rokos together paid more than £660m, underlining London’s continued importance as a global trading hub despite political and regulatory headwinds.
Gambling makes a second major appearance through the Coates family, founders of bet365, whose £227.1m tax bill reinforces how significant the betting sector remains to UK public finances — even as the industry faces increasing regulatory pressure.
Retail giants dominate the middle of the list. From Pentland Group and Home Bargains to JD Wetherspoon, these are founder-led businesses built over decades, employing tens of thousands and generating vast VAT, PAYE and corporation tax flows alongside personal tax liabilities.
The Bigger Picture
What this year’s list makes clear is that the UK’s largest tax contributions are overwhelmingly coming from active wealth creators — entrepreneurs, traders and operators — rather than passive or inherited fortunes.
Whether through gambling, finance or retail, these individuals are not just shaping industries, but quietly funding a significant portion of the country’s public services.
Love them or loathe them, the numbers speak for themselves.
