Sir David Beckham's knighthood was delayed because of concerns over his tax affairs, according to a new biography. The former Manchester United and England footballer was knighted by King Charles in November for services to sport and charity, but the honour came after years of speculation.
Tax concerns flagged by HMRC
According to Alison Boshoff's book, Brand Beckham: The Fame, The Feuds, The Fallouts, HMRC expressed concern over Beckham's tax affairs, which led to delays. The retired footballer, 51, was first considered for a knighthood in 2013 after playing a key role in London's successful Olympic bid. He was nominated by Lord Coe and deemed worthy by the Honours Committee, but the book claims his involvement with capital management firm Ingenious Media scuppered plans that year.
“HMRC gives us a flag – it’s red, amber or green. David was a red. His taxes were the problem,” a source claims in an excerpt from the book. This followed a leaked email exchange in which Beckham reportedly dismissed the committee as a "bunch of c**ts."
Ingenious Media investment
Ingenious Media attracted more than 1,700 investors to three limited liability partnerships, including Inside Track Films, Ingenious Film Partners 2 and Ingenious Games, with the promise of profits and tax breaks for supporting big-budget films. High-profile investors included Beckham, Jeremy Paxman, Gary Lineker, Wayne Rooney, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly. HMRC launched a legal probe in 2014, claiming it was an attempt to avoid tax. In 2021, the Court of Appeal ruled in Ingenious Media's favour for two of the partnerships, stating they were trading for profit.
Beckham's growing fortune
Beckham's personal fortune has been boosted by a $25 million (£18.5m) investment in Inter Miami, the MLS franchise he co-founded in 2014. The club has become one of the most lucrative in Major League Soccer, aided by Lionel Messi's arrival in 2023. It is currently valued at $1.45bn (£1.07bn), and Boshoff claims Beckham will earn £100 million by the end of 2026. Beckham's combined wealth with wife Victoria reached £1.185 billion, according to this year's Sunday Times Rich List. Meanwhile, estranged son Brooklyn has struggled financially, with sources saying he has "barely registered in his key markets."
