Sir Leonard Blavatnik net worth — Sunday Times Rich List 2025
Sir Leonard Blavatnik told The Sunday Times that he and the foundation that bears his name are 'determined to make a difference, whether in science, culture or the arts'. In recognition of his gift to the National Gallery, Room 34 was unveiled as the Blavatnik Family Foundation Room this month.
Earlier this year, Blavatnik, 67, who has British and American citizenship, pumped a further £667 million into DAZN. Founded less than a decade ago, DAZN has already amassed a 20 million subscriber base. Yet the London-based media firm is yet to prove a financial hit, reporting a £1.1 billion loss. His streaming service has spent vast sums on buying up broadcasting rights to European football, boxing, top-tier basketball, motor racing and American football in the hope of building a 'Spotify of sport'.
Blavatnik has plenty of resources to throw at DAZN. He built his fortune in Russia but sold the last of his assets there in 2013. Born in Odesa, when Ukraine was under Soviet control, he moved to a city north of Moscow as a child.
At university in the Russian capital he met his former business partner and fellow Ukrainian Viktor Vekselberg, 68, who is now under western sanctions. During the 1980s they built up then offloaded large stakes in Russia's largest aluminium company and a leading oil company.
Blavatnik settled in the US, where he studied at Harvard and Columbia universities. In 1986 he founded his investment operation Access Industries in New York. It has holdings worth $35 billion (£28.2 billion) in 30 countries, including a majority stake in Warner Music. Warner, which is partly listed on the New York stock market, is worth $14.4 billion. The shares have lost 20 per cent since of their value between February and the compilation of this year's Rich List — and largely explains Blavatnik's lower wealth this year. Access also owns 20.5 per cent of LyondellBasell, a publicly traded chemicals manufacturer and the world's largest producer of polypropylene, which is today worth almost $30 billion. Blavatnik's bet on Lyondell was described by Forbes as 'the greatest deal in Wall Street history'.
His control of Warner Music and Access's funding of a succession of award-scooping films had made Blavatnik a fixture on the red carpet. He co-produced The Zone of Interest, which was named best international film at last year's Oscars. It focuses on the life of the Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss and his wife, Hedwig, who lived with their family in a home next to the concentration camp. An adaptation of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, currently showing on Broadway — and featuring Succession star Sarah Snook — was nominated for six Tony awards.
Blavatnik is planning to invest hundreds of millions of pounds buying up media businesses and producing new TV shows, films and theatre in coming years. Danny Cohen, the former director of the BBC's TV output who is now president of Access Entertainment, says the group will consider large acquisitions in Hollywood. 'We'll spend a few hundred million if we can find the right things,' Cohen recently told the Financial Times. Access recently increased its investment in A24, the production house behind the hit film Everything Everywhere All at Onceand the recent Civil War. Access is also seeking to invest more in South Korea as the media and music scene there continues to grow fast.
Blavatnik, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2017 for his services to philanthropy, has four children with his American wife, Emily Appelson. As well as their London home, they have properties in New York worth several hundred million dollars. He also owns hotels in Hollywood and Miami Beach, and the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat on the Côte d'Azur in France, plus the Ocean Club luxury resort in the Bahamas. Blavatnik spent £45 million on acquiring the Theatre Royal Haymarket in the West End of London and has given money to a range of cultural causes, including £50 million to Tate Modern and £10 million to the Courtauld Institute of Art.
Explore the definitive guide to the wealth of the UK's richest people
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Auto Express
29 minutes ago
- Auto Express
It's incredible that no EV has got the full Electric Car Grant amount
As more cars become eligible for the Government's electric car grant, it's interesting that none of them yet qualifies for the higher £3,750 amount, with the total now sitting at 24 vehicles to choose from with a £1,500 contribution. With the latest batch of five including the likes of the Cupra Born, Volkswagen ID.3 and Peugeot 2008, there's now a decent array of cars included in the scheme, from the chic Renault 4 and 5 through to the practical, family-friendly Nissan Ariya – a former Auto Express Car of the Year! – the Vauxhall Frontera and the Renault Scenic. But it is interesting that nothing has yet achieved the full grant, especially as it's not clear from the outside how the calculations are being worked out. Advertisement - Article continues below Many industry commentators predicted the Renault 4 and 5 should be in pole position for the higher amount, but that didn't happen. That may have revealed something about where the batteries are coming from, and not all are yet being produced at the shiny new plant in northern France. When that facility is up to speed, there's a chance the Renault cars eligible for the grant – the 4, 5, Megane and Scenic are the ones that currently get £1,500 – could be moved to the higher level. But that's far from clear, due to the way the system has been set up. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Want to make the switch to an electric car? Our fantastic Buy a Car service has loads of great value new and used electric cars available right now. I've heard some cynical types suggest glibly that the bar for eligibility for the full £3,750 has deliberately been set unachievably high, so the headlines featured a nice big number, but behind the scenes the Government knew full well that few cars, if any, were going to achieve it. I'm sure that wasn't the case, but the lack of clarity isn't helpful. From what I hear, even manufacturers don't know how close they have come to achieving the higher grant level – they can reapply if anything changes, such as battery supply coming from a different country. However, it sounds like there's little transparency as to why a car is only eligible at the lower level, and if it's down to the environmental credentials of where the batteries are built – coal reliance versus nuclear, for example. The big one will be when the UK-built Nissan Leaf goes on sale in the coming weeks; if that car isn't eligible, then I'm guessing nothing will be. At least the grant scheme will last longer if it's ebbing away at £1,500 a car, rather than nearly £4,000. Pessimistic early projections had it running out as soon as next spring if too many cars were eligible for the higher level. It's obvious that won't be happening now! Did you know you can sell your car with Auto Express? Get the highest bid from our network of over 5,500 dealers and we'll do the rest. Click here to try Auto Express Sell My Car now ... Find a car with the experts Forget Netflix, Volkswagen locks horsepower behind paid subscription Forget Netflix, Volkswagen locks horsepower behind paid subscription Owners can now subscribe to boost the power of their car… for a fee Shock new mid-size Range Rover to get EV power and stunning design Shock new mid-size Range Rover to get EV power and stunning design Mid-size SUV will end the four-year wait for a new JLR model and our exclusive images preview how it could look New Jaecoo E5 is a Range Rover lookalike with a very attractive price New Jaecoo E5 is a Range Rover lookalike with a very attractive price Chinese newcomer's first electric SUV is also a rival to the award-winning Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona Electric
The Sun
29 minutes ago
- The Sun
Unexpected payment for thousands on Universal Credit, state pension and other benefits this week – are you affected?
THOUSANDS on Universal Credit and other benefits will receive an unexpected payment in their bank accounts this coming week. Any benefit payments due on a public holiday are paid the first working day before. 1 And because they are not usually transferred into bank accounts over the weekend, anyone expecting one on August 25 will receive it on Friday (August 22) instead. While payment dates will change this coming weekend, the amount you receive shouldn't, unless you've had a change in circumstances. Remember, if you are paid early, you'll have to make any benefit amounts last longer than usual. So make sure you budget so as not to run out of money before your next payment. If you are expecting an early payment and don't get it, double-check the date you are usually paid and contact your bank. Should you need further help, you should contact the DWP. You can also file a complaint with the DWP regarding any unpaid benefits. You can go to for more information. Payments aren't just being made early this month, but in December as well. If you are expecting a payment on December 25 or 26, it will be paid on December 24 - Christmas Eve. OTHER BENEFITS NEWS Thousands of households on old-style legacy benefits are being moved to Universal Credit via Managed Migration. The whole process is expected to be finished by 2026 after it officially began in July 2022 following a successful pilot. Households receiving one of a number of legacy benefits have been receiving letters outlining what they need to do to move across to Universal Credit. Upon receiving a migration letter, claimants are given up to three months to make the switch. Fail to do this and it could lead to you losing access to your current benefits. The DWP has already closed new claims for four legacy benefits - tax credits, income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, and housing benefit. Households still receiving income-related employment and support allowance (ESA) are now being urged to make the move to Universal Credit. ESA provides financial support for those unable to work due to illness or disability. Initially, the government planned to transfer all ESA claimants to Universal Credit by the end of 2028. However, this deadline has since been brought forward to March 2026. Meanwhile, households on benefits like Universal Credit might be eligible for free cash via the Household Support Fund (HSF). Plus, a record 8million people are now claiming Universal Credit, the latest figures reveal. .
The Guardian
29 minutes ago
- The Guardian
From royal hatters to top tailors: James Bond lawyers line up trademark fight team
King Charles's personal shirtmaker. The world's oldest hatters, who designed fitments for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation crown and boast fans including Winston Churchill. A luxury sports brand with a 'spy-ready' ski-suit. Has James Bond assembled a crack team that can successfully take on his latest adversary? Lawyers representing Danjaq, the US company that controls the rights to worldwide James Bond merchandising in conjunction with the UK company Eon Productions, have filed evidence running to 227 pages as it battles to retain control of the superspy's name across Europe. In February, the Guardian revealed that a Dubai-based property developer had filed claims in the UK and EU arguing that lack of use meant various protections had lapsed around James Bond's intellectual property, including his name, his 007 assignation and the catchphrase 'Bond, James Bond'. Nearly all nine of the trademarks being challenged relate to the merchandising of goods and services under the Bond name, which can be challenged after five years of 'non-use'. Josef Kleindienst, an Austrian who is building a $5bn (£3.7bn) luxury resort complex called the Heart of Europe on six artificial islands off Dubai, has argued that the trademarks have been commercially underexploited. Boehmert & Boehmert, one of the largest intellectual property (IP) law firms in Europe, representing Danjaq, has hit back, filing evidence to the European trademark office from a who's who of high-end partners still using the Bond name. The filing starts with the 140-year-old Jermyn Street tailor, Turnbull & Asser, which describes itself as the 'definitive British shirtmaker' and created shirts for Sean Connery in the first Bond film, 1962's Dr No, continuing to do so since for Bond actors including Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig. The firm is the personal shirtmaker to the king, who bestowed the company with his first royal warrant when, as the Prince of Wales, he was given the power to do so in 1980. Turnbull & Asser created the shirt Charles wore on his coronation day in 2023, and a year later he renewed its royal warrant. The evidence file also features Lock & Co, the world's oldest hatters with roots dating to 1676, whose heritage includes being responsible for fitting out first world war soldiers in their now familiar 'Mark 1' tin helmets before being deployed overseas. The company, based in London's St James's Street, started its Bond relationship with one of its hats appearing in the now famous opening credit gun barrel scene in 1960's Dr No. Lock & Co was also behind henchman Odd Job's famous lethal Coker, or bowler hat, in 1964's Goldfinger. Bond fans can pay £537 for the James felt trilby, Dr No edition while women might take to the £662 Vesper, originally created for Eva Green to wear as Vesper Lynd in 2006's Casino Royale. 'In cases such as this the brand owner should respond by providing a robust package of evidence, assuming they are able to do so,' said Mark Caddle, partner and trademark lawyer at the European IP firm Withers & Rogers. 'Commercial use is often shown by sales figures and a selection of invoices to support them, as well as by evidence of marketing and communications activity, such as brochures, online advertising, physical advertising and social media posts.' Commercial information has also been provided for the luxury sports lifestyle brand Bognor. Willie Bognor Jr, who took over running the company founded by his father in 1932, has been credited for creating the world's first action skiing scenes for 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service. He went on to create alpine scenes for Bond productions including The Spy Who Loved Me, For Your Eyes Only and A View to a Kill. Last year, the company launched its 'spy-ready' ski range – the Bognor X 007 collection – with products priced from $290 to $2,300 (about £205 to £1,700). There is also product and commercial information from luxury cashmere and accessories brand founded in 1936 with a flagship store in London's Burlington arcade, which stocks a modern take on Bond, including a pair of £245 No Time to Die combat trousers. Boehmert & Boehmert has called the trademark action an 'unprecedented assault' on the multibillion-pound global franchise. 'We will file evidence of use for each trademark,' said Rudolf Böckenholt, at Boehmert & Boehmert, in a defence filing. 'Considering the number of goods/services at issue for each trademark, this will be a submission considerable in length and size, including numerous attachments and exhibits.' Kleindienst has extended his attempt to try to take control of the spy's various brands by also submitting his own trademark for James Bond in Europe. He has not, however, done the same in the UK. The developer has said that he has launched the trademark action because he is concerned about the commercial future of the spy franchise, arguing that Bond 'will not die' on his watch. Daniel Craig's last outing as 007, in No Time to Die, was released in 2021. With no announcement yet of his replacement or timeline for production of the next film, the franchise is on track to beat the previous longest gap between instalments of six years and four months. Danjaq also co-owns the copyright to the existing Bond films, along with MGM Studios, which was acquired by Amazon for $8.5bn in 2021. Days after the report of Kleindienst's legal challenges, it emerged that Amazon had paid more than $1bn to gain full 'creative control' of the franchise from Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson, the longtime stewards of the Bond films. With creative control, Amazon now has the power to move forward with new films and potentially TV spin-offs, without approval from the two British-American heirs to the film producer Albert 'Cubby' Broccoli, who had overseen the integrity of the character originally created in 1953 by the author Ian Fleming. Denis Villeneuve, the man behind the Dune franchise, is directing the next Bond film. And Steven Knight, who is the co-creator of the gameshow Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and penned Peaky Blinders, has reportedly been brought on board to write the next 007 outing. In March, Amazon confirmed that Amy Pascal and David Heyman would produce the film, although no release date or lead actor has yet been named. Pascal has experience with the Bond series in her previous position as Sony's chair of film, overseeing Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace and Skyfall. She also had producer credits on the latest Spider-Man series. Heyman is best known as the producer of the Harry Potter films as well as the Fantastic Beasts franchise and is now in pre-production on the HBO TV series adaptation of the stories. He is the second most commercially successful film producer of all time, with credits including Gravity, Paddington, Barbie, Wonka and Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood. 'We have the utmost respect for the legacy of James Bond,' said Kleindienst in response to the latest developments in the trademark case. 'Yet we must acknowledge a simple truth: there are clear trademark and copyright laws, which exist to prevent prolonged inactivity and ensure that cultural properties continue to serve the audiences that value them. Our goal is straightforward – to respect the legacy while ensuring that Bond remains relevant and accessible to all fans.'
