Nicholas van Hoogstraten

Who is Nicholas van Hoogstraten?

Nicholas van Hoogstraten is a self-made British businessman and real estate magnate. Van Hoogstraten is known for his business empire as well as his controversial life story: in 1968, he was convicted and sent to prison for paying a gang to attack a business associate. In 2002, he was sentenced to 10 years for the manslaughter of a business rival; the verdict was overturned on appeal and he was subsequently released, but in 2005 he was ordered to pay the victim's family £6 million in a civil case.

He has been estimated to be worth £500 million, although he claims his assets in the UK have all been placed in the names of his children.