Multi millionaire Guy Ritchie is slammed for using furlough scheme
Multi millionaire Guy Ritchie is slammed for using furlough scheme to pay up to 19 staff at his pub company during pandemic
- Businessman is worth roughly £110million but still used government scheme
- MPs said multi-millionaires should have enough money to pay their own staff
- Mr Ritchie owns a £27million home in Wiltshire and £10million home in London
Director Guy Ritchie has allegedly used taxpayer money to pay his staff through the government’s furlough scheme.
Mr Ritchie, 52, who is worth roughly £110million, angered MPs by using the scheme despite his riches.
An investigation by the Sun on Sunday found Mr Ritchie had been using the government’s scheme.
So far the furlough scheme, intended for business owners who couldn’t afford to pay staff throughout coronavirus lockdowns, has cost more than £50billion.
MPs said last night that multi-millionaires should have enough money to pay their staff in full in the same way Ed Sheeran did.
Guy Ritchie (pictured), who is worth roughly £110million, angered MPs by using the scheme despite his riches
Conservative Pauline Latham told the publication: ‘When the scheme launched, the Chancellor was thinking of small to medium-sized business, not millionaire celebrities or wealthy unions.
‘This is certainly not in the spirit of the scheme. Lots of firms have worked incredibly hard to keep all of their staff employed.
‘So it’s unfair when these people and organisations could clearly afford to keep them on the payroll.’
Mr Ritchie, 52, who was married to Madonna until 2008 and is now wedded to Jacqui Ainsley-Ritchie, owns a £27million 1,000-acre estate in Wiltshire.
Mr Ritchie, 52, who was married to Madonna until 2008 and is now wedded to Jacqui Ainsley-Ritchie, owns a £27million 1,000-acre estate in Wiltshire (pictured)
He also owns a £10million home in London and a property in New York.
Despite this, his firm – Ritchie’s Fatboy Pub Company – furloughed some of its 19 staff, according to documents seen by the Sun on Sunday.
The company suffered losses of £457,000 recently and reportedly set its sights on using all government help possible.
Despite this, his firm – Ritchie’s Fatboy Pub Company – furloughed some of its 19 staff, according to documents seen by the Sun on Sunday. Pictured: Ritchie’s pub the Lore of the Land
According to notes seen by the Sun on Sunday the firm wrote it would ‘ensure the company actions all available government assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic that they feel necessary to ensure the company remains financially stable.’
However, musician Ed Sheeran, 29, staunchly declined government help to pay employees at his Bertie Blossoms bar in west London.
The Government’s scheme which was launched last March pays 80 per cent of staff wages, capped at £2,400 a month.
A representative for Guy Ritchie has been contacted.
