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  1. Wealth
October 6, 2022updated 10 Oct 2022 12:42pm

OUT NOW: Spear’s Issue 85

By Edwin Smith

The new edition of Spear’s Magazine includes interviews with three billionaires and a cover story about the rise of private investigations, writes Edwin Smith

The cover story for Issue 85 of Spear’s Magazine focuses on the changing world of private investigations – an increasingly important force in the lives of many of our readers. 

Financial Times contributor Simon Usborne makes his Spear’s debut, shedding light on the techniques and motivations shaping this otherwise shadowy domain.

If you are looking at the artwork that accompanies the story and feeling a sense of déjà vu, it may be for good reason. It has been conceived as an homage to the legendary graphic designer Saul Bass, who produced titles and artwork for films such as Anatomy of a Murder, Vertigo and The Shining. His aesthetic has been channelled for this magazine by talented illustrator Bob Venables and our own magnificent art director Andy Cowan.

Investing in rare whisky can be risky

Nefarious goings-on are also the focus of our feature on the pitfalls facing would- be whisky investors. Having earned a reputation as a highly profitable asset class, the water of life has also emerged as a fine example of an aphorism attributed to Mark Twain: What’s a goldmine? A hole in the ground with a liar at the top

Fortunately not everyone in the industry is out to make a quick buck; upstanding experts tell Peter Wilson how to avoid losing your shirt.

Sean Mulryan
Irish property developer Sean Mulryan by his ‘sky pool’ at the Embassy Gardens development in Battersea, London. (Image credit: Greg Funnell)

Elsewhere we have interviews with three billionaires – property developer Sean Mulryan (pictured above), biotech and crypto investor Christian Angermayer and insurance tycoon Calvin Lo.

Spear's 500 advisers offer their counsel to Liz Truss, the new PM
Spear’s 500 advisers offer their counsel to Liz Truss, the new PM

Meanwhile, to help Liz Truss settle in at Downing Street, leading advisers from the Spear’s 500 offer their wise counsel on everything from media relations to the economy and interior design.

Content from our partners
Finding a purpose for family wealth during uncertainty 
Porto Montenegro: Adriatic Elegance Tailored to You
Family office gold rush in Hong Kong

Our Briefing section this time is on tax. It includes data from the Spear’s Tax Survey and the story of one tax lawyer’s transformation – as she sees it – from poacher to gamekeeper.

Investors believe private-but-not-private jet company Aero is worth $300 million
Investors believe private-but-not-private jet company Aero is worth $300 million

In the Arcadia section, Spear’s contributors, I’m afraid to say, rack up the air miles. Quite literally in John Arlidge’s case as he runs the rule over the $300 million private-but-not-private jet company Aero. Nick Foulkes is off to Geneva, Arun Kakar is at Tefaf Maastricht, I report from Monaco and Daisy Dunn travels through time and space to ancient Athens. Just about the only one staying put is Sam Leith, whose fascinating column charts the development of a biopic of Kurt Vonnegut.

Swiss-set 1960s espionage caper The Champions helped spark Nick Foulkes' love affair with GenevaNick Foulkes
Swiss-set 1960s espionage caper The Champions helped spark Nick Foulkes’ love affair with Geneva. (Image credit: Pictorial Press Ltd/Alamy)

And that’s not nearly all: we also report back from the BVI, check in to the most expensive rehab clinic in the world and speak to Ukranian entrepreneur and influencer Mariya Solodar about her charity Peace of Mine.

Oil Nut Bay in the BVI
Aisha Alli reports from ‘Billionaires’ Bay’ – Oil Nut Bay, in the BVI.

All the content from this issue of Spear’s is available first to subscribers of the print magazine. Further articles will be published here, on spearswms.com, over the coming days and weeks.

Whichever medium you prefer, I hope you enjoy the magazine.  

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