There are rhythms in public life that often go unnoticed beneath the hum of daily activity — the steady flow of earnings, exchanges of goods and services, and the quieter cycle of shared contribution that keeps society in motion. Behind many of those movements lies something less visible but deeply consequential: the taxes paid by individuals and businesses, a system built on the idea that success supports the collective fabric of community life.
Each year, the Sunday Times Tax List draws back the curtain on this cycle, offering a snapshot of those whose contributions are among the largest in the United Kingdom. In the latest edition, two names rose to the very top: Fred and Peter Done, the billionaire brothers behind the gambling company Betfred, whose estimated tax bill of around £400.1 million placed them as the biggest taxpayers in the country last year. Their contribution, drawn from decades of building a national business, prompts reflection on the ways in which private success can intersect with public duty.
This remarkable figure did not happen in isolation. The Done brothers’ tax bill climbed significantly from the previous year, in part due to changes in taxation affecting corporations and other high earners. Their standing on the list points to a broader tapestry of contribution that reaches into multiple sectors of the economy — from finance and technology to sport and culture — and across individuals whose work and wealth generate revenue for public services that touch everyday life.
Across the top 100 taxpayers, the combined contributions were estimated at about £5.758 billion, a notable increase from the previous year’s total. This collective figure reflects not just the stature of the individuals on the list but also the changing landscape of tax obligations, including shifts in corporation tax rates and other levies. The result is a portrait of a wide and varied group of contributors whose payments help fund everything from health care and education to infrastructure and welfare.
Among those alongside the Done brothers on the list are well-known figures from diverse fields. Writers and entertainers such as JK Rowling and Harry Styles, sports stars including Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah and Anthony Joshua, and business leaders from finance and technology all appear among the top contributors. Their presence on the list underscores the diversity of Britain’s economic landscape and the different paths through which prosperity contributes back to the public realm.
The inclusion of celebrities and athletes often captures public attention, perhaps because their names carry familiarity and imagination. Yet for many, it is the scale of their tax contributions — and how these funds support public life — that resonates most deeply. Behind every figure in the ranking is a complex interplay of earnings, investment, risk, and regulatory context that shapes how much is ultimately returned to the Treasury.
Some observers reflect on these numbers with pride, viewing them as evidence of a shared commitment to the health and functioning of society. Others see in them reminders of ongoing debates around fairness, tax policy, and the distribution of responsibility in a modern economy. That dialogue — thoughtful and, at times, gently critical — is part of the broader story that the tax list helps unfold each year.
In the end, the list does more than rank contributions; it invites a reflection on how success and support are woven together. When names like Fred and Peter Done lead the list, it is a moment to consider not just the scale of individual achievement but also the systems that translate prosperity into collective benefit.
In the 2026 ranking of Britain’s highest taxpayers, compiled from estimations of personal and corporate tax contributions, Fred and Peter Done topped the list with an estimated £400.1 million in tax paid, with the combined contributions of the top 100 contributors reaching about £5.758 billion. Figures from sectors including business, sport, and entertainment all feature in this annual snapshot of fiscal contribution.
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Sources : Sky News The Guardian The Times PressNewsAgency Yahoo News UK