From Thatcherite propaganda to frozen-blood sculptures, the elusive collector Charles Saatchi, 67, has never played by the book, in ads or art.
A Jewish Iraqi by birth, he has called London home since the age of 4. In his teens, Mr Saatchi began collecting Americana: Elvis records, Superman comics, and nudist magazines.
In 1968, he and his brother founded the aggressive advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi. A successful campaign for Silk Cut cigarettes – and another for the anti-smoking cause – followed. In 1979, Saatchi & Saatchi changed British politics with its “Labour isn’t Working” slogan and poster. Seven years later, it had become the largest ad agency in the world, and Saatchi, a very wealthy man.
But throughout his meteoric business success, Saatchi was