Former model Hilary Weston (71) is Ireland’s richest person – despite losing over $160 million as the recession bit in 2011.
The latest Sunday Times rich list reports that the Toronto-based Irishwoman and her tycoon husband Galen are still worth over $9 billion.
The couple, who own the Brown Thomas store in Dublin and Selfridges in London, are a staggering $6.6 billion ahead of nearest rival Denis O’Brien.
Mobile phone entrepreneur O’Brien has lost an astonishing $560 million in the last year and is now worth $3.3 billion.
John Dorrance, heir to the Campbell’s Soup fortune, is third in the list with $2.4 billion with financier Dermot Desmond fourth on $2.2 billion. Both Dorrance and Desmond made profits last year as did the Guinness family who hold onto fifth place with a $1.3 billion ranking.
Rockers U2 are still in the top 10 – on just shy of $1 billion – despite losing almost $100 million in the downturn.
TV show judge Sean O’Sullivan debuts on the Sunday Times Rich List at close to $250 million while lottery winner Dolores McNamara is now worth $150 million.
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary is up $18.5 million to $560 million.
Riverdance legend Michael Flatley is now worth $350 million, well ahead of the show’s creators John McColgan and Moya Doherty on $113 million.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.merefalow | Apr 30, 2012, 06:20 PM EDT
lose 160 mil and still end up with the largest pile,SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THE TAX SYSTEM.i told you,capitalism is great,provided you are a capitalist.
SingleDonald | Apr 30, 2012, 11:30 AM EDT
I echo MissSusie's sentiments. Hilary looks fantastic, at 71!!
IrelandNorth | Apr 30, 2012, 06:27 AM EDT
Capitalism is internationalist in nature. It's no respecter of boundaries or borders that define petty little fifedoms, the governments of which are usually in their pockets anyway. International capitol usually gives a well-deserved two-fingers jesture to incurable parochialites. You're just a consumer in a market to them. However, justice is inately distributive. As long as there is a wide disparity of wealth distribution there will be social injustice and political violence. "Sell what have. Give to the poor. And follow [JC]!"
BrianO | Apr 30, 2012, 02:19 AM EDT
Success should be rewarded, if you feel like you are not doing well then work harder, or sleep with somebody that works harder.
MissSusie | Apr 29, 2012, 08:54 PM EDT
She looks very good for 71 years old!!!
Bailouter | Apr 29, 2012, 06:40 PM EDT
Pity, there are no pockets in a shroud. They all should learn from Chuck Feeney and do some good with it while they are this side of the sod.
Curitiba | Apr 29, 2012, 06:05 PM EDT
A very wealthy Texan was boasting to a particularly well-known Australian multi-billionaire in a casino about how much money he had "I'm worth $500 million" he said to the Aussie. The Aussie replied "tell you what, mate. We'll toss a coin for it". I believe the Texan declined the offer. Not a joke, true story.
Bythebay | Apr 29, 2012, 12:11 PM EDT
If they don't live in Ireland they're not considered Ireland's richest. They make their money in Ireland but live abroad. Denis O'Brien lives in the US.
citizen69 | Apr 29, 2012, 11:15 AM EDT
I feel sorry for all those folk who lost millions during the recession and are now down to the last few billion. Tough times... I hope they are able to keep a roof over their heads! :-/