Britain's 10 most eligible bachelors
From Earls to actors to tyre fitters, these men are all under 30 and incredibly wealthy. Ladies, form an orderly queue…
1. The Earl of Pembroke
With beautiful stately home, Wilton House, and an estimated fortune of £105 million, this aristocrat needs no introduction. The Earl was gushingly described by one journalist as being: “Tall, thin but not weedy, and with the most beautiful blue-green eyes imaginable. Polite, modest, friendly, charming.” The 29 year old declined to speak to Money Central and is probably trying to keep a low profile.
Where does the Earl come in the 2008 Young People Rich List?
2. Daniel Radcliffe
He may be known to millions as Harry Potter, but Radcliffe, 18, is all grown up and now worth an estimated £20 million. His critically acclaimed performance on stage in Equus, where he appeared naked, sealed his new reputation as both serious actor and heart-throb. In his spare time he enjoys cricket, watching Fulham FC and playing bass guitar.
3. Mike Welch
Welch, 29, started off as a tyre-fitter in Liverpool when he was 16. Seven years later he set up BlackCircles, selling tyres at 40 per cent less than high street prices. The business now has a turnover of £10 million, with openings in France, Germany, Holland and Italy. He is now based in Peebles, Scotland, and enjoys boxing and watching Liverpool FC in his spare time.
4. Dhani Harrison
The son of the late George Harrison, Dhani and his mother Olivia were left an estimated fortune £160 million. Harrison, 29, seems to have inherited his father’s musical ambitions – he plays lead guitar and performs vocals in his own band, thenewno2, which he formed with Oliver Hecks in 2006.
See where Dhani stands in the Rich List
5. Adam Hildreth
One of our youngest entrepreneurs at 23, Hildreth has already amassed a fortune of £25 million after he set up Dubit, a website for teenagers, when he was just 14. His new venture, Crisp Thinking, based in Leeds, develops online child protection technology.
6. Jenson Button
Aged 28 and based in Monaco, Button won his first grand prix in August 2006 and has a five-year £50m deal with Honda. His relationships with ex-girlfriends, including Fame Academy's Louise Griffiths and socialite Florence Brudenell-Bruce, have kept him on the tabloid radar. Ladies who enjoy camping will be pleased to learn his car collection reportedly includes a 1956 VW Campervan.
Does Jenson take pole position in the Young People Rich List?
7. Cristiano Ronaldo
The scores of teenage girls aspiring to become WAGs will probably not be deterred by the many tabloid tales detailing Ronaldo’s partying lifestyle and sexual indiscretions. The 23 year old Portuguese may be on a £120,000 a week salary at Manchester United – but this bachelor is certainly not for the faint-hearted.
8. James Toseland
Motorcycle racer Toseland, 27, is the 2007 World Superbike Champion and worth about £8 million. When he is not riding his bike at 200 MPH, he plays the keyboard in his band Crash. In 2006, he did a naked photo-shoot in women’s magazine Cosmopolitan, posing on a bike with only the petrol tank to cover his modesty...
9. Jonny Wilkinson
The clean cut golden boy of rugby has been a favourite pin-up since he stormed on to the international stage during the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Worth an estimated £11 million, the star is still considered down-to-earth and close to his family – he reportedly lives with his brother in Northumberland.
10. Princes William and Harry
No list of British bachelors would be complete without our very own princes William, 26, and Harry, 23. With their good looks, military careers and an estimated wealth of £35 million, it is not hard to see what Kate and Chelsy found attractive.
Do the royals make it into the Rich List? Of course, they do.
More from Money Central:
The 10 most extravagant weddings ever
The UK's 10 best bargain retailers
The 10 worst property investments ever
The 10 most expensive paintings ever
The 10 home improvements that will add the most value
50 great things you can get free
The 10 most infamous heists ever
25 reasons to avoid the new iPhone
The 10 craziest parking tickets ever
The 10 most ridiculous fines of all time
The 10 most audacious swindles ever
Ten tips to survive a property downturn
why am i not there
Posted by: jonathan | 29 Aug 2008 15:35:38
@Jules
What world are you living in? The majority of women ALWAYS look for the best provider they can cling onto.
Some might blame feminism, marriage laws, "modern" ways - but throughout history, it has always been the case - women IN GENERAL see men as the cash cow.
Posted by: Howard | 25 Aug 2008 09:56:55
I'd just like to endorse previously posted comments. Why is money the main commonality between why these guys are eligible?
Surely someone is eligible because they are among others; good character, hard working, respectful, intelligent, educated, caring, sincere. The fact they have money could be a plus point as well but surely not the sole point!
Posted by: Jules | 24 Aug 2008 08:30:04
Since when is Cristiano Ronaldo British? The Princes surely count as two and they have partners so they are not really that eligible? Is it that difficult to find ten British men who are actually looking for a partner? Great journalism from The Times..
Posted by: peter | 21 Aug 2008 11:56:05
er this is an article in the Money section, what do you expect it to focus on!? and John, what's your point, they have to be unmarried it's what "bachelor" means!
Posted by: Emma | 15 Aug 2008 15:23:13
this list is wrong. the most eligible bachelros are the former members of Take That and East 17!!
Posted by: Sharon | 15 Aug 2008 13:49:21
Yet another example of reportage obsessed with money! Don't we have enough of the richest celebs, richest Brits, richest in the world, costliest properties etc?
What does this article try to convey? How does it contribute to a positive change in the society? Does the newspaper industry no longer grapple with such issues any more? Is the mantra 'sell more copies whatever the means'?
Posted by: P Davis | 15 Aug 2008 08:42:28
The list does not distinguish between asset rich and cash rich. The asset rich aristos can probably not put their hands on as many readies as the self made guys
Posted by: Chris | 15 Aug 2008 08:30:52
Just because a young man is rich doesn't mean he is a good catch. Half of these guys are probably horrible people who will be totally disrespectful to their woman. If you marry for money, you earn it!
Posted by: Lynne | 15 Aug 2008 06:23:16
Hey check the spelling of 'bachelor' on the link!
Posted by: Hayley | 15 Aug 2008 01:17:34
Not only are they all quite rich but not a single one of them is married! It's as though "eligible bachelors" means "rich unmarried men" or something.
Posted by: john | 15 Aug 2008 01:15:50
Like peas in a pod these "batchelors"
Posted by: d fraser | 14 Aug 2008 23:44:58
None of the men listed in your "Britain's 10 most eligible bachelors" were worth less than a million. Shouldn't you have called it the "The Gold diggers hit list" instead. It seems like money was the only attaction for the authers list.
Posted by: Jamie | 14 Aug 2008 15:46:37
Where is the list of eligible ladies? With pics please!
Posted by: Jon | 14 Aug 2008 14:30:25