British billionaire identical twin brothers, David was born at 6:00 PM and Frederick at 6:10 PM. Commonly referred to as the “Barclay Brothers” or “Barclay Twins”, they had very substantial joint business interests primarily in media, retail and property until the death of Sir David in 2021. The Sunday Times Rich List of 2020 estimated their wealth at £7 billion.
They were the secretive and reclusive owners of the Ritz Hotel and many other properties, including a luxurious castle on their own Channel Island. Their passionate focus was on business, politics and current affairs, in which they were notoriously elusive. Discreet and private, they did everything together, living together since they both divorced former wives.
At the age of 12, they lost their dad, and took jobs together in a business accounts department and then on a building site before becoming estate agents, property owners and entrepreneurs.
David, the “front man” was considered the most handsome and outgoing; optimist and charming, he once modeled. Frederick was said to be quiet, pessimistic and focused. No photo-journalist managed to catch them on camera since 1983 and they expected total discretion and loyalty from their friends and employees.
Sir David died on 10 January 2021 at age 86 after a short illness.
Link to Wikipedia biography