The Sunday Times Irish rich list for 2016 has a number of people from the agri-business sector, including the Goodman family and Pearse Lyons.
Topping the agri-business rich list is Pearse Lyons of the Meath-based animal feed and biotechnology company Alltech, with wealth estimated by the Sunday Times to be in the region of €1.9 billion.
Last week, Lyons’ company Alltech, agreed terms to take over the well-known diet feeder manufacturer Keenan, after the Borris-based machinery manufacturer entered receivership.
Next on the list is Larry and Kitty Goodman of ABP, sitting in 20th place on the rich list with an estimated wealth of €679m.
Larry Goodman, better known for his involvement with beef processing owns a number of plants across Ireland, the UK and Poland.
In January of this year, his ABP group attempted to purchase a 50% share in Slaney Meats, and if the proposed sale goes through ABP will control 29% of the Irish beef kill.
Bert and Maurice Allen, best know for setting up the Slaney Meats Group in Co. Wexford feature in 36th place on the Sunday Times rich list and are said to have a wealth of €346m.
Up next is Robert Barnett, the main share holder in W&R Barnett – the Belfast-based grain dealing company. According to the paper, Barnett has an estimated wealth of €233m.
David and Carl McCann, who run Total Produce and Fyffes and are worth €141m and make it in to 94th place on the Irish rich list.
Another family associated with beef processing makes it in to the top 150 wealthiest, Jack and Jim Dobson, owners of the Tyrone-based beef processor Dunbia are said to have a wealth of €90m.
And, just sitting just inside the rich list’s top 200 are the Keating family of the Kepak group, with an estimated wealth of €68m.
Moving away from the beef processors, Ronnie Wilson, the majority owner of Monaghan Mushrooms is said to be worth in the region of €60m.