Charles Saatchi

Charles Saatchi is an Iraqi-British businessman and collector who co-founded the Saatchi Gallery, a contemporary art space in London. He is also the co-chairman, with his brother Maurice, of the advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi.

Charles Saatchi was born in 1943 to a wealthy Iraqi Jewish family and moved to London with his family as a child. Charles is the second of four sons.

Saatchi attended Christ's College, a grammar school in Finchley, north London. Later, he graduated from the London College of Communication.

In the 1970s, Charles and his brother Maurice started the advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi, which became one of the largest agencies worldwide. In 1995, both brothers left the agency. Now its network with 114 offices in 76 countries.

In the 1980s, Saatchi began collecting contemporary art and co-founded the Saatchi Gallery in 1985 to display his collection.

The gallery has become one of the most influential institutions in the art world and has played a significant role in promoting the careers of many emerging artists.

Saatchi has been married twice, including to the British television chef Nigella Lawson. He is known for his private nature and rarely gives interviews or speaks publicly about his personal life or business dealings.

The book Be the Worst You Can Be (2012) is Charles Saatchi's answers to questions from journalists and readers, compiled by editors of Booth-Clibborn Editions.