Mamma Mia! drives Judy Craymer up the Rich List

The publication of the annual Sunday Times Rich List, normally a chance to marvel at how much richer the rich have become, should make interesting reading this weekend. And as a teaser, the publishers have put out details of just how much money they reckon British music millionaires have lost in the global financial crisis - with Elton John topping the list down 26 per cent.

However, several wily music moguls are said to be weathering the storm, among them Simon Cowell, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Judy Craymer (above, left), the Mamma Mia! producer, whose millions from the surprise hit of the stage musical have grown further with the success of the Meryl Streep film. This has now taken more than $2.5bn worldwide, as a result of which Craymer's fortune is reported to have grown by 29 per cent to £75 million.

Philip Beresford, the Rich List compiler, said: "Some people think she might be worth more than £100 million, but we¹re a bit more conservative because she doesn't own all of her production company. There is huge value in the Mamma Mia brand."

Another winner is Simon Cowell, whose talent shows, X Factor and Britain's Got Talent, and record lable Syco - to which Leona Lewis is signed - have helped increase his fortune from £112m to £120m.

Other musicians on a roll include the Oasis brothers, Noel and Liam Gallagher, their joint wealth up from £45 million to £52 million, and the Girls Aloud singer and X Factor judge Cheryl Cole who, with her footballer husband Ashley Cole, is a new Rich List entrant with an estimated joint wealth of £13m. Having just been voted the world's sexiest woman by readers of FHM magazine, she's having a good week.

Joining Elton John on a downward slide, according to the Rich List, are Sir Tom Jones down 24 per cent, Simon Fuller, the man behind Pop Idol, down 33 per cent, and Amy Winehouse, down 50 per cent and no questions asked.

"The biggest surprise, looking at the whole music sector, is the absence of any seriously rich young rock artists," said compiler Beresford. "It's just the same old wrinkly rockers, but their income has changed to coming from touring. I presume it's because record companies have become wiser and sharper in recent years and don't give the same deals they used to."

THE TOP 10 RICH LIST MUSIC MILLIONAIRES:

1 Clive Calder, founder of Zomba Records, £1,300m

2 Andrew Lloyd-Webber, composer and impresario, £750m

3 Paul McCartney, former Beatle, £440m

4 Cameron Mackintosh, impresario, £350m

5 Simon Fuller, inventor of /Pop Idol/, £300m

6 Mick Jagger, Rolling Stones frontman, £190m

7 Sting, rock musician, £180m

8 Elton John, rock musician, £175m

8 Keith Richards, Rolling Stones guitarist, £175m

10 Olivia and Dhani Harrison, widow and son of former Beatle George Harrison, £140m

10 Tim Rice, lyricist, £140m ·