RESULTS FOR 2008
Ranking: 1259=
Worth: £60m
Source of wealth: Mobile phones

Sarin, 53, Vodafone’s Indian-born chief executive, oversaw a surge in its share price last year that should garner a handsome reward when his stock options mature. His telecoms career began in 1984 in America, where he was asked to evaluate whether PacTel could make a go of “this thing called a cellular licence” that it owned in Los Angeles. He estimated up to 6% of the population might have a mobile phone by 2000; the actual figure was 32%. Sarin made £17m when PacTel’s successor was bought by Vodafone, then did himself out of a job in 2000 by selling Vodafone’s US assets. In 2003 the deal-maker rejoined the Newbury-based firm as boss. Our valuation includes wealth from shares and bonuses.

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