A DALE landowner has been named the 14th richest man in the region.
In the 30th Sunday Times Rich List, Wemmergill Moor owner Michael Cannon was estimated to have amassed a fortune of £170million – no change from last year.
Wemmergill is known as one of the best shooting estates in the land. Mr Cannon, bought the 17,000-acre site, in 2006 for £5.25million from the Strathmore family.
Mr Cannon made his money in the pub and restaurant trade and is carrying out a massive programme of improvements to Wemmegill.
Equal fifth in the Sunday Times’ rich list for the North East was Jonathan Ruffer who was estimated to have wealth of £425million – up £19million. Mr Ruffer is the man behind the Auckland Castle project and Kynren show.
Newcastle United chairman Mike Ashley remains the region’s richest man with a fortune of £2.437billion, up £277million.
Meanwhile, the full cost to Ellis Short of Sunderland AFC’s ruinous two years has been laid bare. Mr Short, 57, sees his fortune slump by £200million following Sunderland’s second successive relegation to League One.
Just over a year ago, he said he would sell the then Premier League club for £170million.
Then earlier this year, he indicated he would be willing to give the club away if someone took on its debts, before finally he found someone willing to take the failing club on late last month after he agreed to clear its £120million of debts himself.
