20 questions with Balthazar Fabricius, founder of sports betting company Fitzdares
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
The weather.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
“Learn to sing. It’s impossible to be angry and sing at the same time”.
Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2013?
“A north wind brings stormy weather, and a gossipy tongue stormy looks” (Proverbs 25:23, MSG).
Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?
The Sopranos.
What might you swap all your wealth for?
The guarantee of a safe future environment for my children’s children and beyond.
Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the banking crisis?
There has been no industry that has lost more money consistently than the bankers.
What phrase or word do you most loathe?
“I presumed that…” Never presume anything.
In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?
I have recently boxed for charity, helping to raise £200,000 for Starlight. I raised a further £20,000 for five good causes: Prostate Cancer UK, British Heart Foundation, The Ecology Trust, Charlie’s Challenge and Richard House.
The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?
They should be turned off for all meals with friends and family. Otherwise, they are totally acceptable and any establishment worth their salt should have free WiFi.
If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?
Andre Agassi, John Barnes, Linford Christie, Michael Jordan and Zinedine Zidane.
If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?
I had a superb chicken palliard in Berner’s Tavern recently.
What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?
6pm.
A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?
A cup of tea.
Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?
Any night in LouLou’s. It is a jungle of interesting likeminded souls.
Who is the most positive person you know?
Ben Goldsmith.
What’s your most guilty pleasure?
Supersonic cake, a special recipe of my late grandmother’s.
If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?
Esse non Videre – our family motto. To be and not to seem to be.
If you were a car, what marque would you be?
A Morgan. Unique, built using traditional methods and still produced today.
Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.
Have I mentioned that I boxed?
What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?
A photo of my wife with Dame Edna.
Balthazar Fabricius is the founder of Fitzdares. He was also the co-executive producer of Fire in Babylon and was a Boodles boxer in September 2013.
‘Like’ Fitzdares on Facebook here.
Subscribe to our free once daily email newsletter here:
Fun answers. I enjoyed this interview.
This guy is such a “new money”…