Paul Sykes is worth �495m - the fourth richest in the region

In August last year his Stadium Developments group sold a retail park in Swansea for �57.7m.

But it was with the Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield that he made his money - selling it for �1.17bn in 1999.

The centre was developed by Paul Sykes, the fourth richest person in the region with �495m.

Following the sale of Meadowhall, Mr Sykes invested in and subsequently sold internet service provider Planet Online, based in Leeds, with Peter Wilkinson, himself the eighth entry with �205m.

A new entry to this year's list, published on Sunday 27 April, is Robert Miller, ranking second in Yorkshire and the Humber region, and 22nd nationally, with �975m.

Sporting estate

Mr Miller owns the 32,000 acre Gunnerside sporting estate in North Yorkshire.

He made his money from the Duty Free Shoppers chain, of which he sold his 38.75% stake for �949m in 1996.

Another new entry to the list is Michael Evans, of the Leeds-based Evans Property Holdings with �158m.

While Malcolm Heuck and his family-owned Heron Frozen Foods based in Hull, comes in at 886th nationally, with a fortune of �38m.

And Terence Bramall's �37m from his 72% stake in Keepmoat, a building company in Doncaster, puts him at 895th in the national ranking.