In light of the Sunday Times Rich List 2014 we took a look at the first 10 on the list with links to the county.

1. Lord Alan Sugar

Lord Alan Sugar grabbed the top spot
Lord Alan Sugar grabbed the top spot

UK rank: 110 (down from 98)

Wealth: £900m (up £40m)

Primary source: Property

Now a formidable businessman and TV personality, Hackney lad Lord Alan Sugar started his career aged 16 selling electronics out of a van he bought for £50. The 67-year-old, who now lives with his family in Chigwell, founded firm Amstrad just six years later. Two years ago his Amshold group saw profits fall by £12 million but assets rise by 36 per cent to £353 million. He also donates his fee for heading-up BBC1’s The Apprentice show to Great Ormond Street Hospital.

2. Mark Dixon

Mark Dixon is a Chelmsford boy
Mark Dixon is a Chelmsford boy

UK rank: 122 (up from 154)

Wealth: £820m (up £247m)

Primary source: Serviced offices

The Danbury-born 54-year-old millionaire started his career selling packed lunches to Chelmsford office workers. Now 38 years after leaving Rainsford High School to found Dial-a-Snack, he is still the face of Regus after founding this firm 25 years ago. He has a £707 million stake in the Jersey-based company which sells furnished workspaces to businesses and entrepreneurs. He varies his time between homes across the world.

3. David Sullivan

David Sullivan, West Ham United co-owner, lives in Essex
David Sullivan, West Ham United co-owner, lives in Essex

UK rank: 131 (up from 224)

Wealth: £750m (up £350m)

Primary source: Property, media

Sullivan grew up in a Cardiff council house, fought adversity to scoop an Economics degree, and then, went into the porn-publishing industry. The 65-year-old now lives in Birch Hall, a mansion in Theydon Bois, and is best known for owning West Ham United along with David Gold.

4. Jack Petchey

Jack Petchey is better known for his charitable work
Jack Petchey is better known for his charitable work

UK rank: 185 (down from 202)

Wealth: £500 (up £100m)

Primary source: Property

The 88-year-old army veteran used his discharge pay to start up a car hire and sales business, later expanding to property. Petchey Holdings has a commercial portfolio worth more than £500 million. Petchey, who lives in Chigwell, is probably better known as the man behind the Jack Petchey Foundation, which gives £7 million annually to youth projects in the East End and in Essex.

5. Bhikhu and Vijay Patel

The Patel brothers have climbed up the Sunday Times Rich List by about 500 places
The Patel brothers have climbed up the Sunday Times Rich List by about 500 places

UK rank: 190 (up from 608)

Wealth: £525m (up £395m)

Primary source: Pharmaceuticals

Brothers Vijay, 64, and Bhiku, 66, founders of Basildon-based Waymade Healthcare, were born into poverty in Kenya, but arrived into the UK to both earn degrees. Vijay opened his first pharmacy in Leigh-on-Sea in 1975, with his brother quickly jumping on board. Their wealth has grown and grown, partly thanks to selling the Amdipharm operation in 2012 for £367 million.

6. Patrick McKenna

Patrick McKenna
Patrick McKenna

UK rank: 199 (down from 173)

Wealth: £500m (no change)

Primary source: Finance, media

Media and PR mogul McKenna, 57, founder of Ingenious Media, has boasted such clients as the Beckhams, Robbie Williams and Simon Fuller. The Brentwood-born lad and ex-King Edward VI Grammar School pupil has also raked in millions from clever investments, namely a £123 million profit from investing in Hollywood blockbuster Avatar. Last year he earned an honorary degree from Anglia Ruskin University.

7. Nicholas and Peter Gould

UK rank: 269 (up from 380)

Wealth £355m (£150m up)

Primary sources: Property

The Gould brothers Nicholas, 56, and Peter, 54, run a substantial London property group, but are better known as the founders of Southend-based Regis Group (Holdings), which made £5.3 million in 2012/13. The humble pair are far better at straying from the limelight than their fellow Essex rich list members however, and refused the Chronicle when we asked for a picture.

8. Andreas Panayiotou

UK rank: 273 (down from 243)

Wealth £350m (down £15m)

Primary source: Property

Greek-Cypriot tycoon Panayiotou, 48, is far more used to the headlines than the Gould brothers. He has entertained a number of interviews about his personal life and individual property acquisitions and had to appear in court just this month to see his two sons convicted of assaulting an off-duty police officer. The former Waltham Abbey schoolboy, who is open about being illiterate, lives in Epping Forest.

9. William Ives and family

William Ives, of Brentwood, is best known for Rainham Steel
William Ives, of Brentwood, is best known for Rainham Steel

UK rank: 285 (down from 273)

Wealth: £330m (up £14m)

Primary source: Steel, property

Ives, 70, started steel giants Rainham Steel in 1973, seeing £5 million profits in 2012/13. Ives and his family, who live in Hutton Mount in Brentwood, still own the £160 million firm. The Sunday Times reckon his £330 million fortune levels him with the Queen.

10. Ray O’Rourke and family

Ray O'Rourke, the construction boss, livesi n Fryerning
Ray O'Rourke, the construction boss, livesi n Fryerning

UK rank: 330 (down from 294)

Wealth:£280m (no change)

Primary source: Construction

Ireland-born O’Rourke, 67, who now lives in the village of Fryerning near Brentwood, founded the £250 million multinational firm O’Rourke with his brother. It was renamed Laing O’Rourke when it acquired the construction division of John Laing and won £260 million of new work in January. Assets at Dartford-based Laing rose to £171.9 million in 2012/13.