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.