by business editor Trevor
Sturgess

Kent's business brothers Roger and Peter De Haan have risen 40
places in the latest list of wealthy people - even though their
assets have fallen by £10million.

The sons of Saga founder Sidney De Haan made most of their money from the sale of the Folkestone-based over-50s travel and financial services group for £1.35billion in 2004.

Last year they held 89th spot, but because of the plunging value
of assets triggered by the credit crunch, they have moved up to
49th in The Sunday Times Rich List, with wealth estimated at
£840million.

Roger owns the port of Folkestone - which is set for a transformation over the next few years into a marina - and is playing a major part in the regeneration of the town, especially through the creative arts.

Peter runs businesses in marketing and wine said to be worth
£120million. The brothers are also ranked 49th for charitable
giving, with donations put at £24.3million.

The highest-placed Kent people in the list are the Swire
brothers Sir Adrian, 77, and Sir John, 82, from Selling. At 28th,
they have risen from 44th even though their estimated wealth has
fallen by £300million to £1.3billion.

John Swire, the Hong Kong-based financial, shipping and property group, has a controlling stake in Cathay Pacific airline and manufacturing operations.

The Gold family - David (chairman of Birmingham City Football Club), Ralph, who lives near Lamberhurst, and Westerham's Jacqueline, head of the Ann Summers saucy lingerie and sex aids empire - are ranked 178th, up six places but down £150million in asset value.

Frank Brake and family, founders of Brake Brothers, the Ashford-based catering meals business which they sold for £255million, are 265th, up 27 places, on £210million.

Former Dartford rocker Sir Mick Jagger is 297th, up 65 places, with £190million.

Jon Moulton, Sevenoaks-based boss of Alchemy Partners, the private equity firm, has risen 46 places to 535, even though assets of £102million are down £33million.

Guy and Julia Hands, also from Sevenoaks, have slipped 215 places to 540th after their fortune dipped 60 per cent. Guy ran Terra Firma private equity group which lost an estimated £1.2billion on its purchase of EMI. Julia runs Hand-Picked Hotels, which includes Chilston Park, and Brandshatch Place.

The Brett family, from Canterbury, who make their money from quarrying and construction, have dropped 65 places to 782 (£72million).

The downturn in the property market has hit landlords Judith and Fergus Wilson, from Boughton Monchelsea, who slipped 340 places to 793 (£70million).

A surprising omission is Sevenoaks-based Peter Cullum, joint founder of the Towergate Group insurance empire, which has its HQ in Maidstone. Last year, he was ranked 40th with wealth estimated at £1.7billion.