Last years number one, Rausing earned more than 820,000 a day in 2003, taking his fortune to 6.6bn, and putting him at number two in the top 300 listing.

Tetra Pak heiress Kirtsen Rausing was ranked 11th, down from seventh last year, and listed as Britains second-richest woman.

Viscount Rothermere, of the Daily Mail and General Trust in 1998 finished 38th, with a fortune of 793m.

Packaging boss Michael Cornish ranked 41st, up from 192. Cornish sold the Linpac business last year to Montague Private Equity. His worth was valued at 750m.

Express Newspapers boss Richmond Desmond came in at 75 up from 81 in 2003, with 495m, while fellow media baron Richard Sullivan of Sport Newspapers moved up one place to 85 with 430m in the bank.

Magazine publisher Felix Dennis fell one spot to 93 with 405m, while the Blackwell Publishing family fell from 93 to 102 with 396m.

Brian Thomson of DC Thomson fell to 142 from 115 last year, with a value of 290m, while the Johnston family of fellow Scottish publisher Johnston Press dropped two spots to 144 with a 286m wealth.

Haymarket chairman Michael Heseltine slipped from 137 to 170, with his wealth valued at 240m.

The Smurfit family rose to 239m, after the sale of Jefferson Smurfit in 2002. However their ranking fell from 136 to 174.

Scientific publisher Dr Philip Brown and wife Patricia sold PJB Publishing to Informa for 150m, taking their value to 188m, but down from 187 to 220.

Lord Black of Crossharbour slid to 235 from 211 with a fortune of 175m.

The Grahams, owners of Claverley, were 10 places down at 292, with 132m.

Story by Andy Scott