JK Rowling and Ed Sheeran among UK’s highest tax payers

“Bernie Ecclestone, having contributed £652.6m this year, was a one off win for the public finances. Without that payment, the total take on this year’s taxes would have been down on last year,” he said. Gambling billionaire Denise Coates, Specsavers founder Dame Mary Perkins and retailer Chrissie Rucker are among 18 women to appear in this year’s rankings.