'I was born in a Leicester caravan but now I live in a Monaco mansion': ... trends now

'I was born in a Leicester caravan but now I live in a Monaco mansion': ... trends now
'I was born in a Leicester caravan but now I live in a Monaco mansion': ... trends now

'I was born in a Leicester caravan but now I live in a Monaco mansion': ... trends now

Looking out over the sparkling harbour of Monte Carlo, where his £10m superyacht will soon be moored, as he browses apartments in the £20-25m bracket to find a place to park his £500,000 Rolls Royce Spectre, 'billionaire gypsy' Alfie Best can't help breaking into song.

And soon passing tourists wandering the waterfront are looking round bemused at his cheesy rendition of the Dean Martin hit 'That's Amore'.

The reason for his good mood? Best - who was born in a caravan - has just revealed he will never pay UK income tax again as long as he lives, potentially saving himself millions of pounds.

Britain's richest gypsy - whose fortune is actually somewhere near the £700m mark than the figure used in his popular nickname - has emigrated to the millionaire's tax shelter playground of Monaco in a huge blow to HMRC and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.

In an exclusive interview with MailOnline to mark his departure from Britain, Best told us: 'It is true I will not pay any income tax….I am going to start a business here and have no intention of returning to the UK.'

Britain's richest gypsy - whose fortune is actually somewhere near the £700m mark than the figure used in his popular nickname - has emigrated to the millionaire's tax shelter playground of Monaco in a huge blow to HMRC and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt

Britain's richest gypsy - whose fortune is actually somewhere near the £700m mark than the figure used in his popular nickname - has emigrated to the millionaire's tax shelter playground of Monaco in a huge blow to HMRC and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt

Self-made millionaire Alfie Best at Wyldecrest Parks in Essex with his Rolls Royce. He moved from Britain because 'it is no longer Great Britain but Broken Britain'

Self-made millionaire Alfie Best at Wyldecrest Parks in Essex with his Rolls Royce. He moved from Britain because 'it is no longer Great Britain but Broken Britain'

Best - who is quick to point out that he will still be paying corporation tax on all his UK businesses despite his personal change of circumstances - says he was more motivated to leave the country by the state of what he calls 'Broken Britain'.

And he also blames a hostile environment to entrepreneurs like himself for which he blames politicians.

In a fascinating and revealing extended interview, his first since his move, the 54 year old flitted between delight at his new environment and his plans for the future and fury at what he sees as the failure of the UK.

He told us: 'Yes, it's true I will not be paying personal income tax by living on Monaco but all my companies are still in the UK so they will be paying tax.

'I have always paid my fair share of tax and will continue to do so. The only difference being here in Monaco is that I do not pay personal income tax. So when I get dividends from my companies there will be no income tax to pay.

'It is no longer Great Britain but Broken Britain. If you are a successful businessman, you are punished by the taxman and I have had enough of that. I have been chased for seven years and have had enough of that.

'There must be a reason all our successful entrepreneurs have left to take their companies overseas. Sir James Dyson and Sir James Radcliffe have all left to set up business overseas. I'm not the first and will not be the last.'

As someone who has enjoyed the spoils of fabulous wealth, from a personal helicopter with the registration G-PSYE to a fleet of luxury cars, Best knows he will fit in perfectly well among the rich and famous who call Monaco their home.

In a fascinating and revealing extended interview, his first since his move, the 54 year old flitted between delight at his new environment and his plans for the future and fury at what he sees as the failure of the UK

In a fascinating and revealing extended interview, his first since his move, the 54 year old flitted between delight at his new environment and his plans for the future and fury at what he sees as the failure of the UK

As someone who has enjoyed the spoils of fabulous wealth, from a personal helicopter with the registration G-PSYE to a fleet of luxury cars, Best knows he will fit in perfectly well among the rich and famous who call Monaco their home

As someone who has enjoyed the spoils of fabulous wealth, from a personal helicopter with the registration G-PSYE to a fleet of luxury cars, Best knows he will fit in perfectly well among the rich and famous who call Monaco their home

Mr Best, pictured as a child with his parents, was born into poverty in a Leicester caravan

Mr Best, pictured as a child with his parents, was born into poverty in a Leicester caravan

The delivery of a £500,000 Rolls Royce Spectre car in the summer will certainly make him feel more at home among the endless Ferrari's and Bentleys cruising around the narrow, twisting roads of Monte Carlo that next month hosts the F1 Grand Prix.

Over half the 38,000 residents in the principality overseen by Prince Albert can claim to be a millionaires, but few if any have a rags to riches story as incredible as Best's.

Born into a gypsy Romany family in a caravan at the side of the road he left school at the age of 12 and his first job was helping his father sell tarmac door-to door.

At the age of 17 he became a car dealer before opening a chain of mobile phone shops which he later sold for a large profit.

It was the springboard to set up Wyldecrest Parks and he established his first mobile home park in Essex at the age of 30.

In just over two decades he has built an empire of more than 100 mobile home sites from Scotland to Cornwall with 16,000 residents and a staff of 400.

Annual profits are £70m a year and the success catapulted him into the Sunday Times rich list as one of Britain's most successful businessman.

The father of two also has an extensive property portfolio, including ten villas in Barbados that are rented out to tourists and a Hertfordshire golf course.

Over half the 38,000 residents in the principality overseen by Prince Albert can claim to be a millionaires, but few if any have a rags to riches story as incredible as Best's

Over half the 38,000 residents in the principality overseen by Prince Albert can claim to be a millionaires, but few if any have a rags to riches story as incredible as Best's

Mr Best with his £1.5million Bugatti Veron outside of his Surrey Mansion. He was born into a gypsy Romany family in a caravan at the side of the road, he left school at the age of 12 and his first job was helping his father sell tarmac door-to door

Mr Best with his £1.5million Bugatti Veron outside of his Surrey Mansion. He was born into a gypsy Romany family in a caravan at the side of the road, he left school at the age of 12 and his first job was helping his father sell tarmac door-to door

He has been house hunting and looked at homes that have a £25m price tag. Most flats in and around Monte Carlo sell for eight figure sums

He has been house hunting and looked at homes that have a £25m price tag. Most flats in and around Monte Carlo sell for eight figure sums

Annual profits are £70m a year and the success catapulted him into the Sunday Times rich list as one of Britain's most successful businessman

Annual profits are £70m a year and the success catapulted him into the Sunday Times rich list as one of Britain's most successful businessman

His back story has led to appearance on 'Undercover Boss' and a documentary on Amazon called 'Gypsy Billionaire' and charting his success.

While he has quit the UK, he has retained his £7m mansion in Surrey where his wife Emily-Jane lives.

She will later join him in Monaco as they embark on a new life that has seen Best start to learn French and plot to expand his mobile home empire into France as well as the US.

Having left with a few personal belongings piled into the back of his Range Rover Best is renting a two-bedroom flat until his residency is approved.

He has been house hunting and looked at homes that have a £25m price tag. Most flats in and around Monte Carlo sell for eight figure sums.

Before arriving in Monaco he had to show he had £500,000 cash in the bank and other assets so that the authorities were satisfied he had the means to live in the tiny principality where a host of celebrities and sports stars from racing driver Lewis Hamilton and singer Bono call home.

Like Best they were all attracted by the zero-income tax but the warm weather, stunning sea views from the cluster of high-rise flats overlooking the port and relaxed way of life with the Cote D'Azur a short drive away were also factors.

Best said his decision to leave was

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