Healthy, wealthy and wise
Multitasking, adventure-loving, billionaire Jim Rogers talks to Kate Whitehead about his latest big thing
The receptionist at the Grand Hyatt’s fitness centre isn’t looking convinced.
“You’re meeting someone in the gym?” she asks.
Clearly guests in the Wan Chai hotel don’t usually receive visitors in the gym, but apparently this is par for the course for investment guru Jim Rogers.
“I often talk and/or have meetings while on the exercise bike to be efficient/multitask,” he had explained.
Perhaps you’re allowed to be a little eccentric – or should that be diva-ish? – when you buddied up with George Soros in your 30s, made so much money you never need to work again and retired at the age of 37. Having taken several years out to motor around the world – more than once – must afford a man a lot of confidence, too.
Rogers arrives 15 minutes late for our 3pm meeting. Silverhaired and trim in a pink T-shirt and dark leggings, with a laptop under his arm, the 70-year-old American is all Southern charm. He apologises for being late, kisses my hand and says he’s come from the Art Fair, where his wife was interested in buying something at auction.
He wasn’t kidding about multitasking; he has adjusted the bike seat, set up his laptop and is checking e-mails before the photographer has had time to set up his light stand. There’s the ping of new mail, the ping of the flash and the photos are done before the receptionist gets too tetchy.
