Born in France and educated in England, he remained a gambler all his life. In 1954 he eloped with Isabel Patino, after her father is supposed to have refused him by saying that in his family they did not marry Jews. To this he is supposed to have replied that in his family they did not marry Indians, referring to Don Antenor's origins. However, after Isabel died in childbirth, he embarked on his financial career, supported by Ginette Lery.

Unconventional, he is quoted as saying: "When you marry your mistress you automatically create a vacancy." Already involved with his future third wife, he married Ginette Lery by whom he fathered two children. Once married to his third wife, he moved between Paris, where Ginette lives, and London, where his third wife, Lady Annabel, and their three children live. Later on he also become involved with Laure Boulay de La Meurthe and fathered two more children.

An Anglo-French citizen and member of the European Parliament for a French right-wing party, he also championed British nationalism and was an arch-Eurosceptic. He was a global capitalist and regarded as an asset stripper, but supported environmentalism. In 1976, by being on Harold Wilson's resignation honours list, he was knighted and became Sir James Goldsmith. In 1987, prior to the stock-market crash, he proclaimed "Cash is king" and sold his stocks and shares.

With the knowledge that he was suffering from cancer of the pancreas, in 1996 and 1997 he spent $40 million on the British Referendum Party. He chose to die in his Spanish villa in the bed in
which he was born in France. Both Lady Annabel and Laure Boulay de La Meurthe were present and, after he died of a heart attack, Lady Annabel said that his three families were united in their grief.
 

Source: Leo van de Pas