Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Rich getting richer in UK

Updated at 7:00 am on 30 April 2012

Britain's richest people became even richer over the past year despite the double-dip recession.

An annual list in the Sunday Times shows the combined worth of the 1000 wealthiest people is £414 billion, up 4.7%.

It means their joint wealth has now passed the levels seen in 2008, before the financial crash, to set a new record.

Top spot for the eighth consecutive year was held by Indian steel magnate Lak-shmi Mittal, though his wealth has fallen.

The Russian iron ore magnate Alisher Usmanov is second richest, followed by Roman Abramovich, owner of the Chelsea Football Club.

The richest woman is former Miss UK, Kirsty Bertarelli who shares her fortune with her husband Ernesto, the founder of the Alinghi yachting syndicate.

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