The 66-year-old construction machinery magnate leapt from 36th to 20th on the list, with a fortune now worth an estimated £3.15 billion, up by £1.5 billion.
This follows record results for JCB, with turnover climbing 37% to £2.75bn last year.
Topping the list overall is steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, 61, with an estimated £12.7billion. He has led the list since 2005.
Other construction names in the list include John Kirkland, chairman of Bowmer and Kirkland Group, who climbed from 308th last year to 203rd. His wealth has grown from £234 million to £440 million.
House-builder and owner of the Triumph motorcycle business, John Bloor, has been ranked 215th in the list – two places lower than in 2011 – with a fortune of £411 million.
Redrow chairman and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC owner Steve Morgan is worth £410m, and ranked the 216th wealthiest individual on the list.
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