The company you keep
Jul 20, 2009
I played golf last week with Andrew Black and Ed Wray, founders of Betfair. As well as a real pleasure - I judge an afternoon of golf on the basis of whether I feel like playing again after holing out at the 18th and on this occasion I was keen for next time - this was by way of a thank you for the time the pair gave me towards You Bet - The Betfair Story. How two men changed the world of gambling. Betfair is, of course, today a hugely successful company and has made Black and Wray immensely wealthy men (without, I am glad to report, egos in proportion). Their personal stake holding remains the largest, amid some meaty investments and when, as is expected, Betfair goes public some time in the future what is paper wealth will become the sort which you can actually spend. That said, if we played once a week for money, I would, given time, be confident of ultimately unburdening them of every penny. An empowering thought as we sit in the trough of a recession. Stroke a hole, gents?