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| Australian-born Stoddart, 50, showed an early flair for entrepreneurship. He left school at 14 and his first million was made by 26. In 1989, by which time he was based in Herefordshire, he went to Canberra to buy five second-hand aeroplanes. Stoddart was offered some spare parts on the side, which turned out to be 50 containers full. He became the parts dealer for the huge BAC 1-11 European air fleets, making a reputed 900% profit on his investment. His success meant he could indulge his love of Formula One by owning a team, Minardi, which he sold to Red Bull for about £15m last year. Stoddart, who is considering a return to the F1 scene in 2008, lives outside Ledbury. He set up an air charter business, European Aviation, selling it for £28m in 2003 before buying it back in mid-2004 for a minimal outlay with the debts cleared. He also invested about £10m in low-cost airline OzJet in his native country, but planes ceased flying in March after four months. This was an uncharacteristic blip and his other ventures are doing well. | ||||||||||||||||
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