The family behind one of the world’s best-selling single malt whiskies has kept its place at the top of an annual league table of Scotland’s richest people.
The Grant/Gordon family – whose Dufftown-based business William Grant and Sons makes Glenfiddich – is now worth £2.16billion, up from £1.9billion a year ago, according to the latest Sunday Times Rich List for Scotland.
A UK list is headed by two brothers, property and internet entrepreneurs David and Simon Reuben, who live in Switzerland and are said to be worth £13.1billion.
There are a record 10 billionaires north of the border, with Sir Ian Wood ranked as the fourth wealthiest in Scotland and 72nd in the UK with a family fortune of £1.44billion.
The Thomson family, whose Dundee-based media business DC Thomson publishes newspapers, magazines and books and has diversified into new media, digital technology, retail, radio and television through investment interests, are fifth equal on the Scottish list at £1.28billion.
Sharing fifth spot in Scotland are Buckie-born businessman Trond Mohn and his sister, Marit Mohn Westlake, who made their fortune in Norway and are also valued at £1.28billion.
The Duke of Sutherland – whose family seat is at Dunrobin Castle in Golspie – is ranked 15th in Scotland at £580million.
Also high up the Scottish rankings is north-east businessman Steven Ferguson – worth £250million after selling the Kintore-based Ferguson Group for £320million.
Oban-born Susie Wolff and her husband, Toto, are 23rd equal in Scotland and a new entry to the UK’s top 1,000 at £240million, thanks to their investment in Formula One motor racing.
Alasdair Locke, who netted more than £140million from share deals and the sale of Aberdeen-based Abbot Group, is said to be worth £180million.
Ian Taylor, chief executive of international oil trader Vitol and also a director and the largest shareholder at Western Isles business Harris Tweed Hebrides, is valued at £175million.
Tommy Dreelan, one of four brothers who founded Portlethen oil services company Qserv in 2001 and netted nearly £100million when they sold it seven years later to Norway’s Aker Solutions, is said to be worth £172million.
Banchory-born Pete Cashmore, founder of website Mashable, is valued at £170million and Douglas Craig, chairman and managing director of Aberdeen shipping and energy services firm Craig Group is 635th on the UK list with a family fortune of £163million.
Other north and north-east figures among the UK top 1,000 include Aberdeen oil and gas entrepreneur Tom Cross and housebuilder Stewart Milne, on £150million and £136million respectively, and Peterhead-based Alexander Buchan and his family on £180million earned in fishing and transport.
Roy MacGregor, owner of Inverness-based Global Energy Group and chairman of Ross County Football Club, and Aberdeen entrepreneur Jim Milne are both put at £105million.
