Description

John Caudwell is one of Britains wealthiest most successful and most colourful businessmen

John was just six years old when he made a promise to himself that he would make enough money to give huge sums of it away to help his family and others who were struggling with poverty

Born in a terraced house in StokeonTrent Caudwell went from bullied child to insecure trainee engineer at a local Michelin plant to selfmade billionaire befriending Sir Elton John Eva Longoria Hugh Grant and Robbie Williams who have all taken part in his charity balls to raise money for Caudwell Children

It was at a car auction in 1987 the height of Mrs Thatchers booming Britainthat he spotted the future A mobile phone that came in an unwieldy suitcase Within two decades Caudwell sold his Phones 4u business for 146 billion

Love Pain amp Money The Making of a Billionaire retraces the inspirational journey from the very shaky beginnings of his phone empire to owning yachts private planes a fleet of top flight cars a Jacobean mansion in the Midlands and Londons most expensive home featured in a Channel 4 documentary Its a fascinating insight into the drive ambition focus and vision required to become a billionaire

It is also a very British story Caudwell is a man who despite his vast wealth still knows the price of a pint of milk buys his clothes from Marks amp Spencer and despite having swapped the Michelin plant for Michelinstarred restaurants and hotels can often be found in a roadside BampB eating homemade sandwiches after one of his many cycling expeditions

And it is more than merely a rags to riches story It is a tale of battling endless career misfortunes and overcoming a series of personal tragedies to rise to the top Failure disaster and horrendous private heartbreaks are all part of this tale of a troubled child who never won the approval of his father who died when John was a teenager

Love Pain amp Money The Making of a Billionaire is a tale of our times full of humour grit lessons in business and an understanding of what it takes to succeed against all odds