RESULTS FOR 2008
Ranking: 62
Worth: £1,150m
Source of wealth: Finance

Market volatility is just what Spencer likes. The urbane 52-year-old financier runs Icap (Intercapital), the world’s biggest inter-dealer broker, founded in 1986. Its shares have been riding high of late. Born in Malaysia, the son of a civil servant, Spencer read physics at Corpus Christi College, Oxford. While still a student, he made £300 in shares and turned from science to the City. Sacked twice from broking firms, he soon decided it was better to go it alone. The Times says: “He was one of the first to spot the potential in the market for bonds and other derivatives.” There is no doubt he works hard, once describing himself as “the sad person you see reading the FT on the beach”. But the married father of three, with homes in London, Suffolk and Manhattan did set up Icap’s charity day, which has raised £42m for good causes in 15 years, collects art (he is pictured with a Jack Vettriano) and has a stake in Ipswich Town football club. Spencer and his trusts have a £675m stake in Icap and £340m in City Index, the spread betting operation. Personal assets and past salaries take him to £1.15 billion.

RESULTS FOR 2007
Ranking: 88
Worth: £803m
Source of wealth: Finance