Wealthy taxpayers worldwide are moving to Greece, drawn by its tax regime
British hedge fund billionaire Chris Rokos has shifted his tax residency to Greece, spotlighting a wider trend of wealthy Europeans relocating there
Many wealthy and billionaire taxpayers around the world are now moving to Athens, Greece, a trend that has grown sharply over the past two to three years. Greece is back in the news after reports that British billionaire hedge fund manager Chris Rokos has left London. Rokos has decided to shift his tax residence to Greece, meaning his official address for tax purposes is now registered in Greece instead of London.
Rokos, founder of Rokos Capital Management, paid around 330 crore pounds in tax in the UK last year, approximately Rs 4,235 crore. When someone paying such a large sum in tax leaves their country to live elsewhere, it naturally draws attention. His move to Greece has sparked discussion about why the country is attracting the wealthy. Rokos's decision is not limited to one businessman but reflects a broader shift in preferences among wealthy Europeans, who are drawn to Greece for lower taxes, good weather, coastal living and the option to remain within Europe.
The question is how many billionaires are actually relocating to Greece and what the real reason is. According to a report by Henley and Partners, an organisation that tracks wealth migration, around 1,200 millionaires are expected to move to Greece by 2025. This has placed Greece among the global destinations attracting the wealthy. The 2026 Henley report also lists Greece among the most attractive countries for people with international assets. Greece has thus featured in two consecutive reports as a destination the world's wealthy want to move to.
Wealthy people moving to Greece come from various countries. Greece's biggest draw is its non-domicile tax residency programme, under which new foreign tax residents who meet certain conditions can pay a flat tax of just 100,000 euros a year on their foreign income, regardless of how much they earn abroad.
It is not just tax that is drawing people in, but Greece's lifestyle as well. The sea, sunshine, warm climate, small-town atmosphere and connectivity with other European countries all appeal to the wealthy. For those seeking a break from an expensive, crowded city like London, Greece is proving a good alternative. Greece also has a golden visa scheme, under which certain foreign investors can obtain residency status by making investments that meet specified conditions.
