This Irishman is one of the world’s best-known philanthropic performers. Having invested £56 million in Facebook in 2009, he’s now the richest living musician. His shareholding of 2.3% in the company is now worth some £940 million. This “face of fusion philanthropy” is rarely seen in public without his trademark sunglasses and created his stage name in honour of a hearing aid shop.
Tag: United States
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Bono (Paul David Hewson)
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Natalie Massenet
She met her financier husband at the Notting Hill Carnival in 1997 and founded Net-a-Porter a year later. She sold her share in the company for some £350 million in 2010 to Richemont but remains involved. She’s now similarly changing fashion for men with her latest website, Mr Porter. Massenet cuts her own hair as she claims she doesn’t have time to visit hairdressers and bizarrely, for a woman so successful, describes herself as “lazy.” -
Charles Morgan
He’s a member of the family who created and still own the legendary Morgan Motor Company. He’s also worked in television news as a cameraman for ITN and is a motivational speaker specialising in change management. Morgan lists his quirk to be: “Looking English in spite of buying Italian jackets.” -
Vidal Sassoon CBE (1928 – 2012)
He created the “wedge bob” hairstyle and liberated women from the “tyranny of the salon.” Four times married and a Sephardi Jew, Sassoon sold his brand in 1993 to concentrate on philanthropy. The Daily Telegraph once described him as an “anti-fascist warrior-hairdresser” and he will indeed be remembered as a man who led a revolution. -
John Simpson CBE
A Chelsea resident who travels the globe reporting from all manner of war zones. He’s avoided bullets in Tiananmen Square and was punched in the stomach by Harold Wilson on his first day working at the BBC. He freely admits to having had tried hallucinogenic drugs. One resulting hallucination consisted of a 6ft goldfish in dark glasses and a straw hat wrapping itself around his shoulders. At any party, he’s naturally the man guests flock to. -
Céline Dion CC OQ
Dion met her husband and manager, René Angélil, when she was 12. Her rise has been meteoric and she’s now one of the richest women in showbiz. Whether she’s “Falling into You” or “Taking Chances,” however, there’s just something utterly irritating about her demeanour. Please could someone send in an iceberg? This Titanic of a voice needs to sink. -
Nancy Wake AC GM (1912 – 2011)
Churchill’s most highly decorated special agent. A resistance heroine who lived at The Stafford Hotel from 2001 to 2003 and regaled visitors with tales of her time as the legendary “White Mouse.” Her tipple of choice, gin and tonics, flowed as freely as did the stories of her time interviewing Hitler in the 1930s and 500-mile missions on bicycles. -
Barnaby Rodgers
The son of screen legend Anton Rodgers is one to watch in the drinks industry. He’s worked with some of the top brands but is now embarking on a new chapter guiding strategy for a variety of clients. He’s a dab hand in the kitchen and also responsible for the phrase: “I’d rather eat wasps.” -
Uggie
Born in 2002, this Jack Russell has starred in Mr. Fix It, Water for Elephants and The Artist. Whether he’s sat on a bar stool in London with our good friend Alexandra Abrahams or winning a Palm Dog Award at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, this talented little pooch is deservedly film’s top dog. -
The Rt. Hon. The Lord Archer
Jeffrey’s invented a lot of tales but is rightly renowned for spinning them brilliantly. This former politician wrote some brilliant diaries whilst in prison and now is mostly likely to be found doing charitable deeds. His shepherd’s pie and Krug parties are still the stuff of legends.