Tony Blair has built a vast financial empire worth an estimated £100 million a year since leaving Downing Street, according to a new investigation. The former prime minister, who stepped down in 2007, has amassed his fortune through a series of lucrative deals with dictators and multinational corporations, blurring the lines between his charity work and commercial interests.
Blair's earnings include a £3 million-a-year advisory role with US investment bank J.P. Morgan, which he secured after personally negotiating the terms. He also receives around £180,000 annually from Zurich Insurance for advising on climate change, and has been retained as a paid adviser by French luxury-goods magnate Bernard Arnault. His roles as a Middle East peace envoy and founder of two charities—the Faith Foundation and the Africa Governance Initiative—have opened doors to these profitable arrangements.
The former PM has structured his finances through a complex web of companies to shield his wealth from public scrutiny. His income is channelled through BDBCO No. 819 Ltd, which owns a series of companies named Windrush or Firerush. Limited partnerships, such as Windrush Ventures No. 3 LP, are not required to publish accounts, making it difficult to accurately assess his total wealth.
Blair has previously claimed he is worth 'only £10 million', but critics speculate that his true wealth is far greater. The investigation reveals that his accountants and lawyers have erected unusual barriers to prevent an accurate assessment of his finances, reflecting his determination to keep his affairs secret. Blair once described the Freedom of Information Act, which he introduced, as a mistake, calling himself a 'naïve, foolish, irresponsible nincompoop' for doing so.
