Mediaboss Marketing

By Simon Watkins for The Mail on Sunday

Published: 17:02 EST, 22 November 2014 | Updated: 17:02 EST, 22 November 2014

A child born today could expect to live to 120 years of age; in 15 years time perfectly safe driverless cars will be common; and Nigel Farage is absolutely right that Britain should quit the EU. Welcome to the world of Jim Mellon.

As one of Britains richest people his wealth is estimated at 850million Mellon has been described as our very own Warren Buffett. His wealth was made in investment in emerging markets, notably Russia.

But he also made headlines recently when it emerged he had introduced Farage to a millionaire leading donor and had invited the Ukip chief to his birthday lunch at a top eaterie in, of all places, Brussels. He describes Farage as a friend rather than pinning his political colours to the Ukip mast.

Casual: Jim Mellon in the City this week

But despite the penchant for Belgiums restaurants, Mellon is at one with Farage in his dislike of their bureaucrats.

I have a house in Brussels and I can see the Brussels bureaucracy up close and on exit from the European Union, I am totally with him. I dont believe it would be a disaster if we left the EU, because they sell a lot more to us than we sell to them. There are ways of accommodation with the EU, demonstrated by Switzerland which the British could model themselves on.

Theres an intractable problem of imposing a one-size-fits-all system on disparate nations. The idealistic appeal of political union in Europe just doesnt work. And he saves his worst criticism for France. France is run by a committee of lemmings who are shepherding the whole population over a cliff. Its just extraordinary, he declares.

But 57-year-old Mellon is clearly reluctant to be drawn into British politics. I am based in the Isle of Man and my businesses are based there, so I cant vote in the UK and I wouldnt want to, he says.

Read the rest here:
'Don't call me the British Warren Buffett': Jim Mellon gives a candid insight into his world