'UK's richest gypsy' shares his brutal 15-hour a day routine that helps him earn his billions
The 'UK's richest gypsy' has revealed his brutal 15-hour a day routine that helps him retain his billion-pound empire.
Alfie Best Snr who has spent years building up his business portfolio - worth over £1.2 billion - actually came from very humble beginnings.
From growing up in a caravan to losing everything in a recession, it's not exactly been a straight-forward journey to the top.
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In 1989, he started to invest in property, earning £200,000 a year, while driving a brand-new Porsche.
But when the recession hit his business, he lost everything.
However, in the 90s he turned it all around and began investing in mobile phones.
He managed to open 18 stores across the country in 18 months.
The following decade, Alfie started investing in affordable housing, having accumulated a personal wealth of £5 million.
Twenty years later, he owns Europe’s largest affordable housing solution, valued at over one billion pounds.
His life-story has been documented in new film Gypsy Billionaire: A Great British Success Story.
In an interview with the Daily Star, he spoke about his day-to-day routine which helped him accumulate a personal wealth of £745 million.
"I get up and I’m out by 6:45am," he said.
"It’s an hour, hour-and-15 minute drive to my office - which is when I do most of my international calls. To me that’s like buying time.
"Then when I get to the office, the most important thing is clearing my emails.
"Once I’ve done that, I’ve got a routine to check every business we have. Every one of those businesses has cash flow and every one of those has a business plan.
"If they’re going off that plan, I’ll ring them. If anything comes up, I will visit those businesses - whether I fly to them in the helicopter or whether I drive to them."
Alfie concluded: "I normally finish around nine to ten o'clock. But I’m not working, I’m enjoying what I do."
The billionaire recently made a comment on his son's decision to convert to Islam.
Alfie Best Jnr, 25, believes he is the first traveller to convert to Islam, which happened following a lunch trip to Cornwall.
Speaking to The Sun, Alfie Jnr said: “I'm unique - I'm the only gypsy who has converted to Islam.
“It’s not something I want to hide. Being a traveller I’ve had stigma since being in school and I still get it to this day.
“I’ve dealt with it my whole life and it doesn’t really bother me. If anything it has made me a stronger person.”
Dad, Alfie Snr, who starred in the reality show Absolutely Ascot, said: "I am sure in becoming a Muslim he will face further challenges but due to his background I know he has the strength to deal with the haters."
"Thank you to everyone who has supported Alfie Jnr on his journey and thank you to the few haters who have shown your true thoughts and colours, it’s hard being successful, but also hard being a father, but not hard to love my family who only make me proud."
Topics: Celebrity, Money, TV and Film
Anish Vij