Mike Lynch, a technology guru and millionaire from software product sales, is among those missing after the sinking of a super yacht off the coast of Sicily.
According to the Guardian, he is one of the few examples of a UK entrepreneur who created a global technology company, leading many to refer to him as the Bill Gates of Britain, although in reality, his story differs significantly from that of the Microsoft founder.
It is worth noting that about three months ago, the 59-year-old was cleared of 15 counts of fraud he faced in the US following the $11.1 billion acquisition of his company, Autonomy, by Silicon Valley giant Hewlett-Packard in 2011.
“It Would Be My End”
If convicted, Lynch feared he would end up dying in prison due to health issues he was facing with his lungs.
“I have various medical issues that would make my survival very difficult,” Lynch stated to the Sunday Times just last month.
“If (the legal ordeal) didn’t go well, that would also be the end of my life in any sense.”
Born in Ireland, Lynch grew up near Essex, the son of a nurse and a firefighter.
He studied physics, mathematics, and biochemistry at the University of Cambridge but ultimately specialized and turned to computing.
His doctoral dissertation is considered one of the most widely read research papers in the relevant academic community.
A spokesperson for Lynch’s companies declined to comment.
The Italian coast guard announced earlier that the vessel “Bayesian” sank at a depth of about 50 meters. The 15 individuals who have been rescued were of British, American, and Canadian nationality. Eight have been transferred to local hospitals.