The world's richest Scot has more money than Barbados
Scotland has created some innovative entrepreneurs, but few have reached the dizzying wealth of one whisky magnate, who has amassed a staggering wealth of a reported £5.6billion - more than the annual GDP of Barbados. Glenn Gordon is the chairman and heir to the William Grant & Sons whisky fortune - the company behind some of Scotland's most acclaimed drinks brands such as Glenfiddich and Balvenie.
While whisky remains a cornerstone of the business, Gordon has overseen a significant diversification and expansion, turning the firm into a global spirit powerhouse now owning Drambuie, Hendrick’s gin and Milagro tequila. But it's not just alcohol that fuels the fortune.
It is reported Gordon also holds a substantial property portfolio, as well as several other investments, adding to his already-impressive bank balance. Despite being of such influence, he and his family maintain a low profile and are known for being intensely private, very rarely give interviews or allow themselves to be photographed and so avoiding the celebrity status many billionaires seek.
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Glenn is the great-grandson of William Grant himself, who, along with his nine children, built the Glenfiddich distillery with his own hands in 1886. The business grew from strength to strength over the century, and today the brand owns distilleries and bottling sites across the world, including in the US, India and Mexico.
It now employs more than 2,800 people and supplies its drinks to 200 markets around the world. Like many others, the business had a hard time during the pandemic, turning much of its production to ethanol for hand sanitiser. But it well and truly bounced back in the years after.
Despite his impressive £5.6bn fortune, the whisky tycoon - who now lives in Jersey - may be the richest Scot in the world, but he's not Scotland's richest man. That honour go to Danish billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen, who has an eye-watering net worth of £10bn. The Dane is best known as the owner of fashion retailer Bestseller, and owner of brands such as Jack & Jones, Lil' Atelier and Only & Sons. He also has stakes in ASOS, online grocery store Nemlig and payments company Klarna.
