When you’re very rich there comes a time, for some, when the prospect of making even more money is a bit boring. After all, how many luxury homes, private jets or yachts do you really need? What you really want now is power.
Of course, money is power. But not the sort of power that determines or influences public policy, affects the course of world events, gets you into the room where historic decisions are taken – or even stops the traffic for your convoy of cars complete with motorcycle outriders, blue lights flashing.
Political power is the ultimate aphrodisiac, much sexier than mere financial power. Almost everything and everyone is at your beck and call.
I remember Tony Blair telling me not long after he entered Downing Street that one of the joys of being the top dog was that he could see anybody he wanted to see. After 11 years in No 10 he was so insulated from reality that it took him a while to get used to his car stopping at traffic lights.
No matter how many billions…