Number of billionaire Brits up 20 percent

LONDON, April 29 (UPI) -- The number of Britons living at billionaire status has risen 20 percent in just a year, which is three times the number from 2003, the Sunday Times reported.

The London newspaper published its annual list of Britain's 1,000 wealthiest people, and Indian-born steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal topped the list with $38 billion.

The report said the 20 percent rise in Britain's most wealthy compared to an 8.3 percent increase in wealth of the world's richest people over the past 12 months.

The compilation, called the "rich list," said there were now 68 billionaires, born, living or making their money in Britain, which is 14 more than last year and three times the number as in 2003.

Second on the billionaire's list is the owner of the Chelsea soccer team owner Roman Abramovich, with a reported asset-holding remaining the same as in 2006 at an estimated $21.5 billion.