Billionaire supporter of environmental initiatives awards himself £60 million

Sir Chris Hohn: Hedge Fund Leader and Advocate for Climate Action

Sir Chris Hohn, who established The Children’s Investment Fund Management (TCI) in 2003, has become a prominent figure in both the financial world and environmental activism.

In the past year, Sir Chris awarded himself a £60 million payout following a notable upswing in TCI’s performance. This sum was received as an annual dividend from his London-based hedge fund.

TCI’s revenue climbed to $1 billion (£740 million) for the year ending March 2025, an increase from $844 million the previous year.

Now 59, Sir Chris has gained recognition for his outspoken support of environmental issues, frequently highlighting the dangers of climate change and criticizing superficial “greenwashing” efforts.

Back in 2019, he personally contributed £50,000 to Extinction Rebellion and later condemned financial institutions that pledged net zero goals while simultaneously lobbying against stricter climate policies.

Explaining his support for Extinction Rebellion, Sir Chris stated that urgent action is needed because humanity is rapidly damaging the planet through climate change.

Born to a legal secretary and a Jamaican-born car mechanic who relocated to the UK in the 1960s, Sir Chris launched TCI with a vision for both financial success and philanthropy.

Known for his assertive approach to investing, Sir Chris previously employed Rishi Sunak, the former UK prime minister, during Sunak’s tenure at TCI in the mid-2000s. His activist investment tactics—acquiring stakes in companies and pushing for reforms—have earned him a reputation for being uncompromising.

Werner Seifert, former head of Deutsche Bourse, once described Sir Chris’s investment style as “poison” after a contentious dispute over a proposed takeover of the London Stock Exchange. Seifert later authored a book, Invasion of the Locusts, which offered a critical portrayal of Sir Chris.

In 2017, Sir Chris attempted to remove Sir Donald Brydon as chairman of the London Stock Exchange, but shareholders ultimately sided with Sir Donald.

Since its inception, TCI has directed much of its profits to charitable work through the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, which Sir Chris established in 2002. The foundation focuses on aiding disadvantaged children in developing nations and supporting net zero initiatives.

With the recent rise in revenue, TCI increased its donation to the foundation last year to $797 million, up from $427 million in 2024.

With an estimated fortune of £8 billion, Sir Chris is regarded as one of the UK’s most generous philanthropists, donating millions annually to both the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation and the CH Foundation (UK). He was knighted in 2014 in recognition of his charitable contributions.

TCI’s Financial Growth and Philanthropy

TCI now manages assets exceeding $70 billion. Recent financial statements reveal that the fund distributed $81.6 million in dividends over the 12 months leading up to March 2025, a significant increase from $53.3 million the previous year.

The hedge fund’s robust performance has resulted in substantial personal earnings for Sir Chris. In 2022, he received a record-breaking $689.6 million dividend, believed to be the largest ever paid to an individual in the UK, followed by $346 million in 2023.

TCI has not issued any public statements regarding these developments.