Mobile phone entrepreneur John Caudwell has retained his place as the richest person in the West Midlands with a fortune worth almost as much as the combined wealth of his two nearest rivals, according to the new Sunday Times Rich List.

The list, published tomorrow, reveals Caudwell's wealth is valued at #1,280 million, making him the 29th richest person in the country.

The fortune of the Staffordshire businessman ( pictured ) comes from his Phones 4u chain, the distribution firm 20:20 Logistics and the retail chain The Discovery Store.

The list also shows that the combined wealth of the ten richest people in the region has climbed slightly, from #5,068m in 2004 to #5,105m this year.

Sir Anthony Bamford, who retired last year as managing director of the construction group JCB but still chairs the #550m Staffordshire firm, is second on the regional list and is worth #700m. His fortune earns him 65th place on the national list.

His assets include 6,000 acres of land, a #30m yacht, and homes in Barbados and France.

Felix Dennis has seen his fortune rise by #10m in the past year to #595m, placing him third in the West Midlands and 81st in Britain.

The Warwickshire-based publisher's company is responsible for men's magazine Maxim and his British publishing business is worth #60m.

Jorgen Philip Sorensen's fortune has dropped slightly according to the list, from #603m in 2004 to #546m this year, but he is still the fourth richest person in the West Midlands and 89th richest in Britain.

He chairs Ecover, the environment-friendly detergent maker, but his wealth comes from the Midlands-based security firm Group 4 Securicor.

The only new entry in the West Midlands top ten is Grahame Whateley, who returns to the list after a three-year absence, with a personal fortune of #200m.

He is one of a number of people in the bottom half of the regional list who have made their money from property.

His Birmingham-based Castlemore Group is a leading developer of out-of-town shopping centres and made #17.7m profit on #146.5m sales.

Robert Edmiston ( pictured ), who ranks sixth in the region with a #380m fortune, is also among the country's most generous givers to charitable causes.

Largely via his Christian Vision charity, he gave away #10.7m last year. The charity also received a further #22m for future giving, which is concentrated on religious, humanitarian and educational causes.

Roger Gabb, who ranks 571st nationally with #88m is the highest new entry from the region on the national list. He sold Telford-based Western Wines last year.

The other new entries from the region on the national list are Steve Evans, founder of car replacement firm Accident Exchange with #87m, and Con Folkes, owner of property group Folkes, with #53m.