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: USA
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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.” -
Nicky Haslam (Nicholas Haslam)
“Britain’s ultimate interior designer” is a man of many talents and guises. Haslam flits from party to party by night, but by day writes, edits and designs. He’s performed cabaret at The Savoy and Bellamy’s and interior watercolour renderings by him are held by the Victoria & Albert Museum. This trendsetter’s life is indeed summed up by the title of one of his books: Sheer Opulence. -
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. -
James Murdoch
Considered by many as the pretender to the fortune of his father, Rupert, the phone hacking scandal may have put paid to that. He dropped out of Harvard to start a hip hop label named Rawkus and even gave an airing to a then little known Eminem. Here’s a rebel, complete with two tattoos, who, like a phoenix from the ashes, will undoubtedly rise again. -
Lapo Elkann
The Agnelli “crown prince” is also nicknamed “Lapo of Luxury.” Regularly voted as being one of the best dressed men on the planet, he’s worked as a personal assistant to Henry Kissinger and for the family business on brands including Ferrari, Maserati and Fiat. Not without controversy, Elkann’s presence at any event leaves the girls swooning. -
Henrik Fisker
Danish creator of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Aston Martin DB9, Shelby GR1 concept and BMW Z8 Roadster. His latest visionary output is the Fisker Karma, an eco friendly luxury sedan that is simply stunning. Quite rightly he’s been described as: “The greatest living car designer.”