Hedge Fund Founder Rokos Set To Leave UK

Philanthropist and hedge fund magnate Chris Rokos, once Britain's third-largest taxpayer, has relocated his residency from the UK to Greece, according to Bloomberg. Rokos Capital Management, headquartered in London's Savile Row, employs over 370 people and maintains offices in Abu Dhabi, New York, and Singapore. The Oxford-educated entrepreneur, who attended Eton, possesses a net worth of approximately £3 billion and oversees a fund worth more than £15 billion.

In 2025, Rokos paid £330 million in taxes, placing him among the wealthiest taxpayers in the country. He also donated £190 million to the University of Cambridge to establish a school of government. Rokos' departure echoes that of other high-net worth individuals, including steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, Egypt's second-richest man Nassef Sawiris, Checkout.com founder Guillaume Pousaz, and Goldman Sachs vice-chairman Richard Gnodde, who all moved abroad due to anticipated tax increases under the Burnham government.

The UAE and Monaco have attracted the wealthy with favorable tax regimes, while Greece offers an annual flat tax of 100,000 euros on foreign earnings for 15 years if they invest at least 500,000 euros. Italy provides tax breaks for an annual fee of 100,000 euros. The UK's tax increases have led to a drop in non-domiciled taxpayers, with the number reducing from 81,900 to 81,900.

However, the true number of departures since the changes cannot be determined. To counter financial market anxiety about the UK's fiscal health, the government introduced the Foreign Income and Gains regime, offering 100% relief from UK tax on overseas earnings. The Labour government, led by Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey, faces pressure to generate revenue, with increased borrowing or taxes on the rich being likely options.

Burnham has expressed support for higher taxes on wealth, while Andrew Griffith, shadow chancellor, lamented Rokos' departure, stating it negatively impacts young people and raises costs for others.