William Cade

Of Flemish origin, William Cade was a moneylender in twelfth century Britain. Some of his records survive and they show he lent money on a huge scale in the 1150s and 1160s for many purposes, including to the king. But financing trade was a key element of his business. He raised his own funds, mainly from his own extensive trading, mostly with the low countries.

At his death, he was owed around £5,000. He died worth about £6,000 in 1166. This was about 0.66% of net national income of £900,000 and would be worth £7.3bn in today's money.