By Leigh Mcmanus For Mailonline
Published: 08:51 BST, 22 June 2019 | Updated: 08:58 BST, 22 June 2019
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Britain's richest man, who is worth a staggering £21 billion, has asked his neighbours to fund a new high-speed internet connection he is having installed at his new mansion.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, 66, ordered a road dug up in Thorns Beach, near Beaulieu, Hants. and sent letters to 10 neighbours asking them to chip in if they wanted to benefit from the connection, according to The Sun.
The billionaire has also reportedly irked neighbours - who include Dire Straits star Mark Knopfler - by having a security guard patrol the area - when he's not even there.
Team INEOS owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe during a press conference to launch Team INEOS at The Fountaine Free in Linton, Yorkshire. He has asked 10 neighbors to help with a WiFi bill
The trench, costing thousands of pounds, is 1,600 ft in length and will carry fibre optic broadband to the new development which straddles a natural beauty site near Southampton.
One annoyed neighbour told The Sun: 'He's a bloody billionaire. If he wants it, why doesn't he just pay for it?'
It is believed the chemicals tycoon will use the new house as a holiday home. He lives in Monaco.
Among the billionaire's vetoed plans for the Hants. site was this property (artist's impression from 2015), which included hi-tech jacks that could raise the home in case of flooding
'We've had bloody security while they were
