Warner Music owner Len Blavatnik tops Sunday Times Rich List

However, the Ukraine-born magnate's fortune isn't just from music

Helen Nianias
Sunday 26 April 2015 09:00 BST
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Len Blavatnik
Len Blavatnik (Rex)

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Len Blavatnik - the Odessa-born owner of Warner Music - has topped this year's Sunday Times Rich List with a fortune of £13.17bn.

The music industry may be struggling, but Blavatnik has compiled an impressive business portfolio, including stakes in oil and aluminium.

Blavatnik - who is nicknamed "the King" - founded New York-based investment company Access Industries in 1986, which was initially built to sell off state-owned industry in the USSR after the fall of communism.

In 2005, the conglomerate started dealing in petrochemicals and went on to acquire Lyondell Chemical Company. Blavatnik and his business partners later gained control of oil firm TNK, a partner of BP.

The tycoon bought Warner Music in 2011 for £2.17billion, later picking up the Parlophone label, albeit without the Beatles back catalogue.

Under Blavatnik, Warner Music manages artists such as Blur, Sheryl Crow, Wiz Khalifa, Alt-J, and T.I.

Blavatnik owns a mansion worth £41million in Kensington Palace Gardens and lives with his four children and wife, Emily Appelson.

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