Simon Halabi

Bassam Simon Halabi (Arabic: سيمون حلبي born August 1958) is a Syrian-born British businessman and property developer. His wealth derived initially from his father, who was a successful businessman in Syria. His father played a crucial role in helping him establish his early ventures. Embarking on a series of speculative property ventures, Halabi amassed a sizeable fortune himself. In the Sunday Times Rich List 2007, he was ranked 14th richest person in Britain, while the Forbes list of global billionaires listed him at no. 194 in 2007, with an estimated net worth of US $4.3 billion. In 2009, Forbes ranked him no. 224 with a reduced net worth of US $2.8 billion. He was declared bankrupt in 2010. Halabi has been described as "private" and "secretive", and does not give interviews. As of 2007, he had an extensive collection of houses, cars, and a 130-ft yacht. He changed his name to hide a rape conviction in France.