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British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch is among six individuals reported missing following the sinking of a superyacht off the coast of Sicily, The Independent has learned. The 59-year-old, renowned for founding Invoke Capital and Autonomy Corporation, was on board the superyacht named Bayesian when it sank due to severe weather near Palermo early Monday morning.
The vessel, which had 12 guests and 10 crew members on board, has seen 15 people rescued, including Lynch’s wife. It has been confirmed that Lynch owns the superyacht. Local media have reported the discovery of a body, believed to be the yacht's chef, with images showing a body bag being transported to shore where ambulances were stationed.
Lynch, often referred to as the “British Bill Gates,” and his wife Angela Bacares were listed with a combined wealth of £852 million in the Sunday Times Rich List for 2023. His disappearance comes shortly after he was acquitted by a US jury of all charges related to the sale of his software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 2011. HP alleged that Lynch had used accounting manipulations to inflate the company’s value prior to the sale.
Following the allegations, Lynch was extradited to the US last May, where he faced a trial that resulted in his acquittal on all 15 counts associated with the $11 billion acquisition. Lynch has described the verdict as “indescribable” and noted that his substantial financial resources were crucial in clearing his name. He has spoken publicly about the challenges faced by those without significant wealth in affording extensive legal defenses.
Born near Chelmsford, Essex, Lynch was the son of a nurse and a fireman. His father’s regret over missing out on university education led to a strong emphasis on the value of education in Lynch’s upbringing. After winning a scholarship to Bancroft’s School and studying natural sciences at the University of Cambridge, Lynch founded his first company in the 1980s with a modest loan, producing audio products for the recording industry.
