BEING mega-rich in Yorkshire means that even when you lose millions, you're mega-rich, as the latest Sunday Times rich list proves.

That is the case with Sir Ken Morrison, the supermarket tycoon from Myton-on-Swayle, who in the year he bowed out after 56 years as the boss of Morrisons, saw his family's wealth fall by £145 million.

Yet the 75-year-old still remains North Yorkshire's richest man according to the list, which records his fortune at £1.450 billion. It makes him still the second richest man in Yorkshire as a whole, pipped once again by Eddie and Malcolm Healey, the property and Hygena kitchen giants, with a combined fortune of £1.9 billion.

Sir Ken slipped down the national rankings from 35 last year to 52 this year, but so did the Healeys who were 25th in 2007 and are now 35th.

For another top North Yorkshire tycoon, Paul Sykes, 64, it was onward and upward. His fortune was recorded at £520 million last year. It is £30 million more this year, helped by the £243 million net assets of his Harrogate-based Highstone Group. While the fourth richest in Yorkshire, he has slightly slipped down the national rankings, three places to 146th.

Just below him - as the fifth richest in Yorkshire - is Hamish Ogston who founded the York-based CPP and is worth £530 million - up from £450 million last year.

For the Shepherd family, whose York-based construction empire has kept them on the list for years, it is steady as you go. Their combined fortune was £420 million last year. Ditto this year, although they slip down the national rankings from 190 to 206.

Making an appearance in the Top 20 is Kevin Linfoot, the York builder and developer made good who is 20th with a fortune of £145 million, unchanged from last year.

New to the Yorkshire top 20 is Paul Caddick, 57, of Wetherby whose £220 million fortune earns him 14th place - money partly derived from his family-owned property-to-construction business which builds retirement homes.

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