Billionaire Chris Rokos to Leave UK for Greece and Move Tax Residency to Athens

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Billionaire hedge fund manager Chris Rokos is preparing to leave the UK and move his residency to Greece, according to people familiar with the matter, in a move that highlights Greece’s growing appeal to ultra wealthy investors.

Rokos, founder and chief investment officer of Rokos Capital Management, is expected to establish a presence in Athens as part of the move, according to reports by the Financial Times and Bloomberg.

The reported relocation comes as wealthy individuals reassess their tax residency following changes to the UK’s tax system and concerns about potential future tax increases.

Chris Rokos manages a $22 billion hedge fund

Rokos founded Rokos Capital Management in 2015 after previously co founding Brevan Howard Asset Management.

His investment firm has grown into one of the world’s leading macro hedge funds, managing approximately $22 billion and employing more than 370 people across its international operations.

Rokos remains the firm’s key investment decision maker and leads its global macro investment strategy.

The billionaire was among the UK’s highest individual taxpayers. The Financial Times reported that he paid himself approximately £477 million last year, following a strong period for his hedge fund.

Why is Chris Rokos moving to Greece?

Greece has introduced a tax regime designed to attract wealthy foreign residents and investors.

Under the country’s alternative tax regime for qualifying high net worth individuals, new residents can pay a €100,000 annual flat tax on foreign income, subject to meeting the relevant conditions. The regime can apply for up to 15 years, while qualifying applicants must also satisfy investment requirements.

The reported move by Rokos comes after the UK abolished its longstanding non domiciled tax regime, while wealthy residents have also expressed concerns about further tax increases.

The Financial Times said Greece is among several countries that have introduced tax incentives aimed at attracting ultra high net worth individuals. Italy, the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland have also benefited from wealthy individuals leaving the UK.

Athens could gain a new financial heavyweight

Rokos’s reported move could further raise Athens’ profile as an emerging destination for international investment and financial services.

The establishment of an Athens office would also give Rokos Capital Management a more substantial operational presence in Greece, although the company already operates internationally from major financial centres.

The firm’s official website lists its global operations and identifies Chris Rokos as founder and chief investment officer.

Rokos has also been a major philanthropist in the UK. Earlier this year, he pledged £190 million to the University of Cambridge, described by the Financial Times as the largest ever gift to a UK university. He has also invested heavily in restoring the historic Tottenham House in Wiltshire.

Part of a wider UK wealth exodus

Rokos would join a growing list of prominent wealthy individuals reported to have moved their tax residency away from the UK.

The Financial Times cited departures including steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, Egyptian billionaire Nassef Sawiris and former Goldman Sachs executive Richard Gnodde.

For Greece, the reported relocation is another indication that its efforts to attract high net worth residents are gaining international attention.

A spokesperson for Rokos declined to comment on the reported move, according to the Financial Times.

If confirmed, the relocation of one of Britain’s most successful hedge fund managers would represent a significant addition to Greece’s increasingly international financial and investment community.

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