Property entrepreneur Jon Hunt remains one of the UK’s most influential and quietly successful billionaires.
His position is confirmed again in the Sunday Times Rich List, which estimates his net worth to be £1.447bn - up from £1.427bn the previous year.
Best known as the founder of Foxtons, one of London’s most recognisable estate agency brands, Mr Hunt also has business interests across the wider South East, including Suffolk.
Early career and Foxtons
Born in Colchester to an army family in June 1953, Hunt began his career in estate agency before launching Foxtons in Notting Hill in 1981.
The company grew rapidly, establishing a dominant high street presence and a reputation for its distinctive green-and-yellow branding.
In 2007, he sold the business to private equity firm BC Partners for a reported £370 million, a move that secured his place among the UK’s wealthiest individuals.
Post-Foxtons ventures
Following the sale, Hunt focused on property investment and development projects.
He has invested more than £200 million into central London schemes, often targeting underused or derelict sites with potential for commercial redevelopment.
Hunt is also active in the hospitality and flexible workspace sector.
In 2011, he co-founded Pavilion, a chain of business members’ clubs in London, alongside his daughter Emma.
The Pavilion concept combines serviced offices with hospitality-led work environments, appealing to professionals and entrepreneurs.
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Wilderness Reserve
Beyond urban development, Hunt is the owner and developer of Wilderness Reserve, a large private estate in Suffolk’s Yox Valley.
The estate features restored parkland, lakes, and woodland, as well as high-end holiday accommodation in historic houses and cottages.
It represents his long-term approach to land conservation and rural investment.
Wealth and reputation
Most of Hunt’s wealth derives from his success with Foxtons.
In the mid-2020s, he was reported as ranking just outside the top 100 in the Sunday Times Rich List and is known as one of the property sector’s most discreet high achievers.
Business publications often describe him as low-profile but highly influential.
He remains actively involved in strategic decision-making across his ventures, both in the capital and further afield.
