That’s entertainment! Life in the spotlight

1985: AN EMPIRE IS BORN

AFTER graduating from Cambridge and Harvard, Martin Sorrell joined the advertising world. At Saatchi & Saatchi he was known as ‘the third brother’ alongside siblings Maurice and Charles. In 1985 he bought a wire basket-making firm called Wire and Plastic Products, which today is his multi-billion pound global media empire, better known as WPP.

2000: ARISE SIR MARTIN

Sorrell’s meteoric career was recognised by the Establishment with a knighthood. Envious rivals referred to the vertically challenged titan behind his back as ‘21st June’ – or the Shortest Knight.

2005: BRITAIN’S BIGGEST DIVORCE PAYOUT

Success exacted its price as Sorrell’s 33-year marriage ended in a very public divorce. He was ordered to pay a record settlement of £29 million, which included a £3.25 million Georgian townhouse in Central London, to Sandra (left), the mother of their three sons.

2007: BACK IN COURT, FOR A LIBEL BATTLE

Not long after the divorce, the diminutive tycoon was back in the High Court. This time he was after libel damages from two former colleagues who had allegedly posted anonymous messages online about his relationship with WPP’s chief operating officer in Italy at the time, who, at 44, was many years his junior. One email was said to have described Sorrell and his former girlfriend as ‘the mad dwarf and the nympho schizo’. He settled out of court for a reported £120,000.

2008: DOWN THE AISLE AGAIN

Sorrell married an even younger woman, Italian economist Cristiana Falcone (below). His first daughter was born in 2016 when he was 71.

2015: £70 MILLION PAYDAY

Sorrell took home more than £200 million between 2010 and 2016 – including £70.4 million in 2015. WPP is set to announce a massive pay cut for him in the 2017 financial year– from £48 million to £15 million. That is largely because the firm has seen its worst year for growth since the financial crisis.

2018: WHAT NOW?

He has kept everyone entertained for years. Love him or loathe him, we will miss him if he goes.