!Mike Lynch
59-year-old British tech billionaire Mike Lynch. PHOTO/Courtesy

Sicily, Italy – 59-year-old British tech billionaire Mike Lynch, often dubbed ‘Britain’s Bill Gates,’ is among the individuals who have gone missing after a luxury yacht sank off the coast of Sicily. The incident occurred on Monday, August 19, during a celebration of Lynch’s recent legal victory in the United States.

Lynch had invited close family and friends aboard the yacht to mark his acquittal on fraud charges. However, a sudden tornado struck the vessel, named the Bayesian, causing it to sink. Among the missing are Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, along with four others.

The Bayesian, linked to Lynch’s wife Angela Bacares through her company Revtom Limited, was carrying 22 people at the time of the incident. Bacares was among the 16 individuals rescued by the captain of a Dutch sailing ship, the Sir Robert BP.

!Luxury Yacht
Luxury yacht which sank in Italy with 59-year-old British tech billionaire Mike Lynch and others on board. PHOTO/Courtesy.

Billionaire’s Lawyer Also Missing

Others missing include Lynch’s lawyer, Chris Morvillo, two Americans, and one Canadian citizen. Italian authorities have deployed rescue divers, helicopters, patrol boats, and firefighters in the ongoing search efforts.

A spokesperson for the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office stated, “We are providing consular support to a number of British nationals and their families following an incident in Sicily, and are in contact with the local authorities.”

It is believed that nearly all 22 people on board were asleep in their cabins when the boat began to sink. Local sailors reportedly found only one life raft before the Coast Guard arrived, which contained a baby.

Who is Tech Billionaire Mike Lynch?

  Mike Lynch amassed his wealth by cofounding Autonomy, a tech company acquired by Hewlett-Packard (HP) for $11 billion in 2011. Recently, his attorney revealed that Lynch’s net worth is approximately $450 million (KSh57.82 billion).

The sale of Autonomy was one of the largest British tech deals of its time but was plagued by legal issues, leading to a fraud trial. In June 2024, Lynch was acquitted of 15 counts of fraud related to the sale.

Tragically, two days before the yacht sank, Lynch’s co-defendant in the fraud trial, Stephen Chamberlain, died in hospital after being hit by a car while out on a run.