Joe Lewis British businessman Date of Birth: 05.02.1937 Country: Great Britain

Biography of Joe Lewis

Joe Lewis is a British businessman who currently resides in Albany, Bahamas. He was born on February 5, 1937, in East London, above a pub. At the age of 15, Joe dropped out of school to help his father in the family business, Tavistock Banqueting, and started as a waiter. When he took over the reins, Lewis increased the company's income by selling luxury goods to American tourists and became the owner of the nightclub "Hanover Grand" in the West End.

In 1979, he sold the family business and acquired initial capital. In the 80s and 90s, Lewis engaged in currency operations, which led to his relocation to the Bahamas, where he settled as a tax exile. In September 1992, Lewis joined forces with American financier George Soros, resulting in a significant devaluation of the pound and the British government's withdrawal from the European Exchange Rate Mechanism. This event, known as Black Wednesday, made Lewis very wealthy, and some claim he made more money than Soros from the pound's collapse.

Lewis is the main investor of the Tavistock Group, which owns over 200 companies in 15 countries, including medical centers, sports teams and tournaments, energy and oil companies, financial firms, restaurants, commercial real estate, and resorts. He annually hosts the "Tavistock Cup" tournament in Florida, raising millions of dollars for charity. Lewis also owns three out of the four competing clubs: Albany, Lake Nona Golf & Country Club, and Isleworth Golf & Country Club.

Recently, Lewis completed the construction of the "Albany" golf facility in the Bahamas, which opened in October 2010. In New Providence, Lewis owns part of a luxurious resort that includes a hotel, a water park, a golf course, a 71-meter yacht, a children's club, a spa and fitness center, and a wide selection of restaurants and bars. He has invested approximately £70 million in real estate development on the sunny coast of Bulgaria.

Another grand project for Lewis is the "Lake Nona Medical City" in Orlando, Florida. It is a medical city located near the Orlando International Airport, consisting of a concentration of research organizations, children's and veterans' hospitals, educational institutions, apartments, and supporting services.

In Argentina's Rio Negro Province, Lewis acquired property around Escondido Lake, sparking debates as all water bodies in the country are considered public property. However, Lewis owns all the land surrounding the lake. Many activists insist on creating a public pathway to the lake, but ecologists fear it will harm the protected area.

Joe Lewis has been married twice. His first marriage to Esther Browne, a former waitress in his father's catering business, ended in divorce. Esther gave birth to two children, a daughter named Vivienne Lewis, who is considered the heir to Lewis's business empire, and a son named Charles Lewis. His second wife is Jane Lewis, who worked as his secretary for many years. Lewis owns an extensive art collection, including works by Picasso, Matisse, Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon, and sculptor Henry Moore. He uses his luxurious yacht, "Aviva," as a mobile office.