Harborne Sixth on UK Rich List as Farage Faces Probe

Christopher Harborne was ranked sixth on the UK Rich List with an estimated fortune of about $24.4 billion (£18.2 billion). Most of his wealth is linked to an estimated 12% stake in Tether, the issuer of the USDT stablecoin, which has been valued at roughly $200 billion.

Tether reported $1.04 billion in first-quarter profit, nearly $192 billion in reserve assets and an $8.23 billion reserve buffer. Harborne’s lawyers have stated he holds stakes in Tether and its sister company Bitfinex but has no operational role in either. Harborne lives in Thailand and holds Thai citizenship under the name Chakrit Sakunkrit. The ranking lists him as the wealthiest person from the North of England and Yorkshire, with a fortune larger than the combined wealth of the region’s next nine richest people.

The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner opened an inquiry into whether Nigel Farage should have declared a reported £5 million ($6.7 million) gift that was made before he stood in the 2024 general election. The investigation is recorded as an active Rule 5 inquiry for “failure to register an interest.”

Under Commons rules, new MPs must register current financial interests and any registrable benefits received in the 12 months before their election within one month of taking their seat.

Farage described the payment as an “unconditional, non-political, personal gift” intended to fund his security and told broadcasters he believed he was under “no obligation” to declare it. He also characterized the money as “a reward for campaigning for Brexit for 27 years” and said he “cannot be bought,” adding officials had examined the matter “from every legal angle.”

Records show Harborne has donated about $16.1 million to Reform UK, including a roughly $12.1 million contribution late last year. After the larger payment, Farage purchased a property for about $1.9 million in cash shortly after receiving the funds. Reform UK stated the offer and purchase process began before the payment and that Farage had provided proof of funds and other checks prior to receiving the money.

The Standards Commissioner’s office publishes the names of MPs under investigation and brief details of the Code of Conduct provisions alleged to have been breached; no findings have been published in this case. Representatives for Farage and for Harborne have been contacted for comment.