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Blair Visits China, Collects $300,000 For Saying “Ni Hao”
By Paul Midler | November 7, 2007
Tony Blair passed through South China on a tour that lasted a reported three hours. Stopping at Guangda, a luxury real estate development, he gave a speech to a large group of government officials, bankers and various other bigwigs, and for his efforts the former British Prime Minister was paid a whopping $300,000 speaker’s fee. By comparison, Bill Clinton earned $250,000 for a thirty minute engagement in Shenzhen five years ago, and save-the-planet Al Gore earns $175,000 a pop.
There is little doubt that for years to come that real estate development in South China is going to be remembered as “that place where Blair spoke.” Like owning a Porsche, getting the chance to rub shoulders with former world leaders carries a deal of prestige. For those who paid Blair his fee, the money was not likely wasted. I don’t know how many millions the property project was worth before he turned up, but chances are that villas at the complex will be selling for a great deal more in the morning.
Topics: China |
November 7th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
With that dropping dollar, no wonder he wants more than Bill Clinton. Net he might have less to spend.
November 8th, 2007 at 2:49 am
Now if it were only 300k Quid!!
Gee I can’t wait for “W” to get out of office so he too can command top money for his bumbling and stuttering…
November 9th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
The numbers are even bigger, according some media sources. For reference, an article from the Financial Times.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/2f318f8a-8e37-11dc-8591-0000779fd2ac.html
November 11th, 2007 at 8:29 am
Be fair, give the man a break, he’s one of the most successful salemen and money grubbers we have seen - he’s sold, privileges, corruption, 2 wars, some of the most expensive and unnecessary projects in the UK so why shouldn’t he sell a few houses in China. If he does the job successfully they wil probably invite him back to sell off a bit of old wall someone left lying around.
November 17th, 2007 at 2:27 pm
H: Gee I can’t wait for “W” to get out of office so he too can command top money for his bumbling and stuttering…
Compared to Chinese leaders, who get canned questions reviewed beforehand, W is pretty polished. My favorite is Wen Jiabao, who sounds like he’s mentally handicapped (on wheels).