RESULTS FOR 2008
Ranking: 969=
Worth: £80m
Source of wealth: Cleaning products

Becht’s home should be as sparkling as his career, as the 51-year-old chief executive of Reckitt Benckiser personally tests its Mr Sheen and Cillit Bang products. Since taking the helm, following the merger of Reckitt & Colman and Benckiser, the Dutchman has almost quadrupled earnings to £768m and pushed the company’s market value to £21 billion. Reckitt has also entered healthcare, buying Boots Healthcare for £19m in 2006 and Adams Respiratory Therapeutics for £1.1 billion. Becht has a £51.8m stake in the firm and a £22m salary. This year he said that he sold “stupid products, stupid ideas”, later clarifying that he meant “simple” not “stupid”. Becht is neither, at £80m after tax and spending.

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