Dramatic scenes unfolded on Monday when a luxury yacht sank off the coast of Sicily, survivors said. Among the missing is Mike Lynch, who is also called "the British Bill Gates”, writes ARD. His daughter is also wanted.
It is claimed that the yacht trip was organized precisely by Mike Lynch who wanted to celebrate being acquitted in a fraud case with his friends. The luxury yacht "Bayesian” however, it sinks in a storm.
Lynch has been known for decades in the UK, ARD recalls. In 2011, he made one of the largest technological deals in the country's history. Lynch sells his software company "Autonomy” of the American "Hewlett Packard” for nearly 10 billion euros.
Tech mogul and power advisor
Lynch is one of Britain's richest men and has been an adviser to the Conservative Party government on artificial intelligence. The businessman also founded a technology investment company and is considered a tycoon in this field.
In the words of entrepreneur Brent Hoberman Lynch "was always considered a legend”, he told the British public media BBC. For other entrepreneurs in the UK, Lynch has always been a role model - especially his understanding of mathematics and how he applies it to business.
Long legal battle and extradition to the US
Lynch's megadeal for the sale of his company "Autonomy” was followed by a long legal battle in the US. Lynch was accused of fraud, falsifying his sales and overvaluing the company. In 2023, Great Britain even extradited the billionaire to the United States, ARD recalls. The then 59-year-old man was immediately arrested by US law enforcement.
The British entrepreneur was expected to be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison. In a previous case, the company's CFO had already been sentenced to 5 years in prison for fraud. However, Lynch insisted that he had done nothing wrong.
A surprising vindication and another tragedy
In June of this year, Mike Lynch was surprisingly acquitted by the jury in the case. Shortly after, he explained to the BBC that he can't wait to get back to his work in the technology sector. Lynch explained that he loves his job and wants to continue being innovative, writes ARD. Friends, family and some of Lynch's lawyers were on the yacht off the Italian island of Sicily, media reports said. 15 people were saved, including the billionaire's wife.
On the same day that the yacht sank, one of the other defendants in Lynch's case - his colleague from the leadership "Autonomy” Stephen Chamberlain died in an accident in the Cambridge area of England. The 52-year-old man was reportedly hit by a car while jogging. It is not clear if there is anything in common between the two incidents.