The 9 richest couples in Britain

the wedding of Lady Charlotte Wellesley and Alejandro Santo Domingo in Granada, Spain.PA

Some of the richest people in Britain are power couples that have a combined wealth that dwarf the fortunes of the Queen.

When the Sunday Times Rich List, which ranks the 1,000 richest people in Britain, first began in 1989, it was dominated by aristocratic or people who had inherited wealth.

But now it seems that “wealth is often gained and lost within three generations” and wealthy individuals marrying each other means fortunes can balloon into the billions.

A preview of The Sunday Times’ Rich List, which will be published later this month, highlights the fact that most of the wealthiest women in the UK owe their spectacular fortunes to marriage.

Others inherited their vast wealth and became among the richest people in Britain when they combined it with their spouses.

“This year’s Sunday Times Rich List will show how the make-up of Britain’s richest 1,000 people is changing – with a record number of women and more husband and wife partnerships than before,” said Robert Watts, the Compiler of The Sunday Times Rich List 2017.

“Starting a business with your other half may not appeal to everyone. A bit of pillow talk about balance sheets wouldn’t suit all marriages, but there are clearly some couples who are making it work – and very well.

“The growing number of women we’re seeing in the Rich List is part of a greater diversity, with more people from ethnic backgrounds and more surprising walks of life, with soft toy makers and dating app developers lining up with private-equity barons and hedge-fund managers.”

Business Insider decided to take a quick look to see who made the top spots in the couples ranking: