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UKIP donations are likely to have risen as much as 5 times between 2013 and 2014.

Real estate magnates, a Mayfair club owner and a betting tycoon are among the people who poured money into the UKIP election machine last year.

In fact, the party received a staggering £1.3m from real estate developer Highstone Group alone in just the first 9 months of 2014.

Despite these huge sums, Nigel Farage has been quoted as saying he wants to turn to fat cats from his old sector - the City - to fund his party’s race to Parliament in 2015.

Property developers, betting tycoons and management consultants - UKIP's 5 biggest backers

Here are the 5 biggest donors to UKIP last year, using Electoral Commission figures from January to September 2014.

1. Yorkshire property developer Highstone Group - £1.3m

Paul Sykes of Harrogate-based developer Highstone Group is far and away the biggest donor to UKIP this year. The company gave £1.3m to the party, though its donation is classed as value in advertising, not cash.

2. Betting tycoon Stuart Wheeler - £199,500

Stuart Wheeler is a spread betting tycoon who formerly served as UKIP’s treasurer.

3. Mayfair-based management consultants - £85,000

Growth Financial Services Ltd is a Mayfair-based management and financial consultancy company with a turnover of £6.5m.

4. East-London based property developer - £65,000

Mura Estates LLP is another property developer, behind several major developments in East London.

5. A private members' club owner - £55,000

Mr Robin Birleyruns a private members’ club in Mayfair, which costs £1,875 a year to join. He gave UKIP £55,000 in 2014.

UKIP donations look set to be FIVE TIMES bigger between 2013 and 2014

UKIP’s funding is 9 times less than the Tory Party’s - but then it only has 2 MPs to the Conservatives 303.

Once the donations from the last three months of 2014 are added in, Ukip's total donation haul could be as high as £3.6m. Richard Desmond the newspaper magnate has pledged £300,000. And former Tory donor Arron Banks who made his money in insurance brokering and financial services, promised £1million in October.

If those two donors came good by the end of 2014, UKIP will have raised at least £3.6m in 2014, 5 times more than the year before.

poll loading What would you donate to UKIP 0+ VOTES SO FAR My life's earnings My left shoe I'd take them out for a Nando's Some common sense!

[Source: Electoral Commission]

UPDATED to state that Stuart Wheeler is a former Ukip treasurer.