Billionaire Hedge Fund Founder Chris Rokos Latest to Leave UK Amid Tax Concerns

British billionaire and hedge fund tycoon Chris Rokos has become the latest high-net-worth individual to relocate abroad, moving his residency from the UK to Greece and opening an office in Athens. Rokos, founder of Rokos Capital Management, was Britain's third biggest taxpayer last year.

His firm, based in London’s Savile Row, employs more than 370 people and operates global offices in Abu Dhabi, New York and Singapore. With a net worth of around £3 billion and managing a fund worth more than £15 billion, Rokos paid £330 million in tax in 2025. He also recently donated £190 million to the University of Cambridge to establish a school of government.

His departure follows similar moves by other billionaires, including Lakshmi Mittal, Nassef Sawiris, Guillaume Pousaz, and Richard Gnodde, amid expectations of rising taxes under Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government. Nations like the UAE, Monaco, Greece, and Italy have increasingly attracted wealthy individuals with favorable flat tax regimes and tax breaks.

The UK has recently increased taxes across various sectors, including private equity investments, private school fees, inheritances, and capital gains, alongside the 2024 scrapping of the long-standing non-domiciled status regime. Shadow chancellor Andrew Griffith criticized the departure, warning that the loss of wealth and job creators leaves fewer opportunities for young people and increases the financial burden on the public.

Meanwhile, government officials defended the UK's economic standing. Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden maintained that the UK remains a great place to live and build a business, while government spokespersons emphasized the nation's competitive tax system, skilled workforce, and world-class universities. Neither Chris Rokos nor his firm have issued a comment.