Bill Archer, the man Albion fans love to hate, has been revealed as one of Britain's richest men.

Mr Archer, 57, who Seagulls fans have accused of bringing the club to its knees, has leapfrogged Sir Elton John, Madonna and Guy Ritchie, JK Rowling and advertising gurus the Saatchis to be included in the Mail on Sunday's rich list.

He has been named at joint number 119 in the top 300 British millionaires, alongside furniture magnate Lord Kirkham and property investor Jack Petchey.

Mr Archer, head of the Focus Group DIY empire, is worth an estimated £250 million.

Albion chairman Dick Knight has launched a bid to buy out his predecessor's £1.4 million stake in the club. Knight had offered £700,000.

On Saturday, the club released a statement confirming negotiations had taken place between the men and a deal was ready to be signed.

Topping the list is milk carton magnate Dr Hans Rausing, who lives on a farm close to Wadhurst, near Crowborough, and has a fortune of £6.3 billion.

He made his money from the Tetra Pak cardboard cartons for fruit juice and milk.

Seven places behind him is his niece, Kirsten Rausing. She inherited her late father Gad's part of the family fortune and invested it in a string of successful racehorses.

Aristocrat Viscount Cowdray, who inherited the 17,000-acre Cowdray Park estate at Midhurst, is rated at number 21 with £945 million.

Rye's Sir Paul McCartney came 39th with £655 million.