Latest news with #JonathanMiller
New York Post
18-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
NYNext Guide to: Where the wealthy are moving now
Money talks — and moves. In 2025, 142,000 millionaires around the world are expected to relocate — the largest voluntary transfer of private capital in modern history — per Henley & Partners, a London-based consultancy that tracks global trends in high-net-worth relocation. 17 Scottsdale, AZ., unseated Austin, TX., as the fastest-growing millionaire hub in the US in 2025, according to a Wealth Report conducted by Henley & Partners, a global leader in citizenship by investment. tim – Advertisement Traditional migration paths for the 1% have seen wealthy individuals fleeing high-tax areas like New York and California — which are losing Americans making over $200,000 at the highest rates of any US states — for buzzy locales such as Miami, Monaco and Portugal. But for the rich, a number of new destinations — both in the US and abroad — are gaining ground. '[They're] not just looking for safe bets in proven markets,' real estate appraiser Jonathan Miller told NYNext. 'They're looking to live where they want to live.' Advertisement Here, five locations where high-net worth individuals are increasingly flocking to. Puerto Rico 17 Act 60, Puerto Rico's marquee tax incentive program, offers significant benefits to qualifying individuals and businesses — including a 4% corporate tax rate and 0% federal capital gains — making it a major draw for high-net-worth relocators. othman – The US territory is luring big money with its Resident Tax Incentive Code, known as Act 60. Signed into law in 2019 and recently extended through 2055, Act 60 offers a 4% corporate tax rate and 0% federal capital gains to those who spend 183 days per year on the island. Advertisement 'Ninety-nine percent of my clients are coming here for the tax advantages,' San Juan luxury real estate specialist Christian Kleiner told NY Next. 17 John Paulson, seen here speaking onstage during Angel Ball 2022, was one of the earliest island adopters. Getty Images for Gabrielle's Angel Foundation According to Kleiner, more than 3,500 participants are currently taking advantage of Act 60. Many are in the finance, crypto and tech worlds, including early island adopters John Paulson, manager of the hedge fund Paulson & Co., and Michael Terpin, a digital asset investor. Advertisement The real estate market has surged accordingly. Home values in Puerto Rico rose 11.6% year-over-year in Q1 2025 — outpacing every US state in annual price growth, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency. One of Puerto Rico's best-known transplants is Phil Shawe, co-CEO of TransPerfect, the world's largest privately held language services provider. 17 Puerto Rico has proven highly attractive to high net worth individuals, particularly from the East Coast. In addition to a plethora of tax incentives, sources told NYNext that the favorable legal climate and the fact that they can remain under US federal law were among the primary reasons they decided to move. dbvirago – Shawe relocated in 2018 after a bruising legal dispute in Delaware, which he says cost a third of the company's value in legal fees. Puerto Rico's favorable legal climate — it's still under US federal law — and a lifestyle shift prompted his move. Shawe and much of his C-suite now live in Condado, just 15 minutes from TransPerfect's headquarters in Hato Rey, San Juan's financial district. 'The infrastructure reminded me more of Florida than I expected,' Shawe told NY Next. Uruguay Advertisement 17 Uruguay's appeal lies in its rare blend of political stability, personal safety and natural beauty — without the natural disaster risks that plague other regions. ricardokuhl – Felipe Silva, a Punta del Este–based advisor with Engel & Völkers told NYNext that the South American country is drawing wealthy folk — particularly those from California and New York — with its business opportunities and safety. 'They want a place with no war risk, no earthquakes, no tsunamis … there aren't many of those left, especially in the Southern Hemisphere,' Silva said. 'They're looking for a place to escape, but at the same time, to invest.' 17 Uruguay's luxury market is booming, with high-end developments in Punta del Este and Montevideo catering to international buyers seeking beachfront living, modern amenities, and long-term value. Courtesy of Engel & Volkers Advertisement Uruguay's fertile soil, vast freshwater resources and per-hectare prices far below US and European norms make agricultural land a popular bet, too. Uruguay offers a 10-year income tax holiday for foreign buyers who spend at least 60 days per year in the country and invest $500,000 or more in real estate. Or, you can invest $2.3 million and no time in the country is required. 17 Uruguay's fertile soil, abundant freshwater and relatively low per-hectare prices have made farmland an increasingly popular asset class for wealthy buyers looking to diversify. Martin Germino/Wirestock – Buying property, Silva noted, is relatively frictionless — with transactions typically wrapping within 30 to 60 days. Advertisement These various advantages have drawn numerous people in recent years, including musicians Shakira and Ronnie Wood, as well as Cipriani CEO Giuseppe Cipriani. 17 Oceanfront property in Uruguay remains remarkably undervalued compared to global luxury markets — with prime beachfront homes often selling for a fraction of what similar properties would command in Miami or Malibu. Michele – Developers have been eager to meet demand. Trump Tower Punta del Este, a 26-story luxury tower that opened in 2024, has listed apartments for upwards of $8 million. Advertisement Down the beach, Cipriani Ocean Resort is marketing a penthouses for $17 million. 17 Luxury developments are booming in Uruguay, with high-end projects like Trump Tower Punta del Este and Cipriani Ocean Resort (pictured above) drawing international buyers with oceanfront penthouses priced up to $17 million. Cipriani Punta del Este/Facebook Silva noted that the lifestyle is hard to beat. 'You have the city, the coast and the countryside all within 15 minutes,' he said. Florida — but not Miami 17 Wellington, known for its world-class equestrian scene, draws ultra-wealthy buyers seeking privacy, land, and proximity to elite polo and riding events. Robert Stevens, courtesy of Qasanova Luxury The rationale for moving to the Sunshine State hasn't changed — zero state income tax, favorable weather and a business-friendly environment — but buyers are increasingly looking beyond the usual suspects like Miami and Palm Beach. 'We're seeing demand spread out a bit,' Jonathan Miller, CEO of real estate appraisal firm Miller Samuel, told NYNext. 'We're now seeing significant [multi-million dollar] transactions in Manalapan and Wellington.' Manalapan, a town of fewer than 500 residents just south of Palm Beach, made headlines in 2022 when Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison purchased a $173 million estate. The sale triggered a new wave of high-end buyers, including hedge funders — Chris Rokos has a $150 million property — musicians and developers. 17 Larry Ellison, pictured here at the Oracle Open World conference in San Francisco, owns a $173 million compound in Manalapan that set Florida's real estate record in 2022. Getty Images 17 Neighboring Ellison's compound, this $285 million mansion will span 54,570 square feet and include everything from a car museum and shooting range to a private bowling alley, golf simulator, and padel court. Courtesy of Holland PR In July 2025, developer Stewart Satter obtained approval to begin construction on a $285 million spec mansion directly adjacent to Ellison's property. If sold at that price, it will become the most expensive home in U.S. history. Wellington, an equestrian community about 20 miles inland, doesn't have ocean views, but the horsey set cares more about being near the showgrounds. Wellington's 12-week winter show circuit, the longest-running in the world, has turned the town into a seasonal hub for the super-rich, drawing Olympic riders, star polo players like Nacho Figueras and horsewoman-heiress such as Jessica Springsteen (daughter of Bruce) and Georgina Bloomberg (daughter of Michael). 17 Georgina Bloomberg participates in the Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic at the Wellington Equestrian Center on February 23, 2013, in Wellington. Larry Marano Matt Johnson, a luxury broker with 26 years of experience in the market, said many of his buyers tour stables in the area before looking at houses. He noted that the area has had 23 sales over $5 million in the past 18 months alone. 'The luxury market is the equestrian market,' Johnson told NYNext. Scottsdale, Arizona 17 High-net-worth individuals, primarily those from California and Seattle, are flocking to Scottsdale for its land, lifestyle, low taxes and lack of natural disasters. Matt Gush – In 2025, Scottsdale unseated Austin as the fastest-growing millionaire hub in the US, according to a Wealth Report conducted by Henley. The Phoenix suburb saw a 125% surge in millionaire residents from 2014 to 2024, fueled by remote work trends, a thriving tech sector and a flood of Californians — and some Seattleites — in search of lower taxes and peace of mind. Unlike coastal competitors, Arizona has no earthquakes, no hurricanes, and — compared to Florida — more forgiving winters. It also boasts something high-end buyers increasingly crave: land. '[They want] acreage, uninterrupted views, new builds, guest houses, pickleball courts, pools,' Scottsdale's preeminent luxury broker, Kelly Jones, told NYNext. 17 Arizona's flat 2.5% income tax — one of the lowest in the country — has become a major draw for wealthy individuals seeking financial efficiency and simplicity. BCFC – From a financial and legal perspective, Arizona's appeal begins with a flat 2.5% income tax — adopted in 2023, and still among the lowest in the country — and ends with favorable estate-planning laws. Moreover, friendly business regulations have streamlined everything from corporate formation to trust structuring to legal investments. High‑profile residents in Scottsdale and its surrounding suburbs reportedly include retired Phoenix Suns star Charles Barkley, retired race car driver Danica Patrick, actors Emma Stone and David Spade and GoDaddy founder Bob Parsons, who also owns the Scottsdale National Golf Club. All together, Scottsdale now hosts about 14,800 millionaires, 64 centi‑millionaires and five billionaires, per Henley. 'We continue to surprise ourselves,' Jones said. This story is part of NYNext, an indispensable insider insight into the innovations, moonshots and political chess moves that matter most to NYC's power players (and those who aspire to be). Milan, Italy 17 Milan is Italy's financial capital and one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Europe, offering international schools, luxury shopping and proximity to the Alps and lakes. Kavalenkava – The city is quickly transforming from the wealthiest in Italy to one of the wealthiest in continental Europea, predominantly because of Italy's special tax regime. Introduced in 2017, it's been dubbed the 'CR7 rule' after footballer Cristiano Ronaldo. He was one of the first to take advantage of the policy, which allows non-domiciled residents to pay a flat tax of no more than €200,000 (about $233,000) annually on all foreign-generated income. More recently, the rule has attracted prominent financiers like Elio Leoni-Sceti, founder of venture capital fund The Craftory; Bart Becht, former CEO of Reckitt Benckiser; Richard Gnodde, Goldman Sachs' investment banking vice chair; and Nassef Sawiris, Egyptian investor scion and billionaire. 17 Milan has become Europe's newest wealth magnet thanks to Italy's 'CR7 rule,' a 2017 tax policy — named for footballer Cristiano Ronaldo — that lets non-domiciled residents pay a flat tax of no more than €200,000 annually on all foreign-generated income. Getty Images 'Milan is a financial center with international schools and classy shopping precincts,' Dominic Lawrance — a partner at the London-based law firm Charles Russell Speechlys, which recently opened an office in Milan — told NYNext. 'The city is, by Italian standards, highly cosmopolitan.' Many making the move hail from London — which experienced a 12% decline in millionaire growth from 2014 to 2024 per Henley. Only Moscow saw a greater decline. 'Italy has benefited greatly from ill-judged tax reforms in the UK, which have had the unintended effect of driving away wealthy, mobile individuals,' Lawrance said. The Milanese even have a name for this migration: 'svuota Londra' or 'empty London.' Send NYNext a tip:nynextlydia@
New York Post
18-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Where the wealthy are moving now
Money talks — and moves. In 2025, 142,000 millionaires around the world are expected to relocate — the largest voluntary transfer of private capital in modern history — per Henley & Partners, a London-based consultancy that tracks global trends in high-net-worth relocation. 17 Scottsdale, AZ., unseated Austin, TX., as the fastest-growing millionaire hub in the US in 2025, according to a Wealth Report conducted by Henley & Partners, a global leader in citizenship by investment. tim – Advertisement Traditional migration paths for the 1% have seen wealthy individuals fleeing high-tax areas like New York and California — which are losing Americans making over $200,000 at the highest rates of any US states — for buzzy locales such as Miami, Monaco and Portugal. But for the rich, a number of new destinations — both in the US and abroad — are gaining ground. '[They're] not just looking for safe bets in proven markets,' real estate appraiser Jonathan Miller told NYNext. 'They're looking to live where they want to live.' Advertisement Here, five locations where high-net worth individuals are increasingly flocking to. Puerto Rico 17 Act 60, Puerto Rico's marquee tax incentive program, offers significant benefits to qualifying individuals and businesses — including a 4% corporate tax rate and 0% federal capital gains — making it a major draw for high-net-worth relocators. othman – The US territory is luring big money with its Resident Tax Incentive Code, known as Act 60. Signed into law in 2019 and recently extended through 2055, Act 60 offers a 4% corporate tax rate and 0% federal capital gains to those who spend 183 days per year on the island. Advertisement 'Ninety-nine percent of my clients are coming here for the tax advantages,' San Juan luxury real estate specialist Christian Kleiner told NY Next. 17 John Paulson, seen here speaking onstage during Angel Ball 2022, was one of the earliest island adopters. Getty Images for Gabrielle's Angel Foundation According to Kleiner, more than 3,500 participants are currently taking advantage of Act 60. Many are in the finance, crypto and tech worlds, including early island adopters John Paulson, manager of the hedge fund Paulson & Co., and Michael Terpin, a digital asset investor. Advertisement The real estate market has surged accordingly. Home values in Puerto Rico rose 11.6% year-over-year in Q1 2025 — outpacing every US state in annual price growth, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency. One of Puerto Rico's best-known transplants is Phil Shawe, co-CEO of TransPerfect, the world's largest privately held language services provider. 17 Puerto Rico has proven highly attractive to high net worth individuals, particularly from the East Coast. In addition to a plethora of tax incentives, sources told NYNext that the favorable legal climate and the fact that they can remain under US federal law were among the primary reasons they decided to move. dbvirago – Shawe relocated in 2018 after a bruising legal dispute in Delaware, which he says cost a third of the company's value in legal fees. Puerto Rico's favorable legal climate — it's still under US federal law — and a lifestyle shift prompted his move. Shawe and much of his C-suite now live in Condado, just 15 minutes from TransPerfect's headquarters in Hato Rey, San Juan's financial district. 'The infrastructure reminded me more of Florida than I expected,' Shawe told NY Next. Uruguay Advertisement 17 Uruguay's appeal lies in its rare blend of political stability, personal safety and natural beauty — without the natural disaster risks that plague other regions. ricardokuhl – Felipe Silva, a Punta del Este–based advisor with Engel & Völkers told NYNext that the South American country is drawing wealthy folk — particularly those from California and New York — with its business opportunities and safety. 'They want a place with no war risk, no earthquakes, no tsunamis … there aren't many of those left, especially in the Southern Hemisphere,' Silva said. 'They're looking for a place to escape, but at the same time, to invest.' 17 Uruguay's luxury market is booming, with high-end developments in Punta del Este and Montevideo catering to international buyers seeking beachfront living, modern amenities, and long-term value. Courtesy of Engel & Volkers Advertisement Uruguay's fertile soil, vast freshwater resources and per-hectare prices far below US and European norms make agricultural land a popular bet, too. Uruguay offers a 10-year income tax holiday for foreign buyers who spend at least 60 days per year in the country and invest $500,000 or more in real estate. Or, you can invest $2.3 million and no time in the country is required. 17 Uruguay's fertile soil, abundant freshwater and relatively low per-hectare prices have made farmland an increasingly popular asset class for wealthy buyers looking to diversify. Martin Germino/Wirestock – Buying property, Silva noted, is relatively frictionless — with transactions typically wrapping within 30 to 60 days. Advertisement These various advantages have drawn numerous people in recent years, including musicians Shakira and Ronnie Wood, as well as Cipriani CEO Giuseppe Cipriani. 17 Oceanfront property in Uruguay remains remarkably undervalued compared to global luxury markets — with prime beachfront homes often selling for a fraction of what similar properties would command in Miami or Malibu. Michele – Developers have been eager to meet demand. Trump Tower Punta del Este, a 26-story luxury tower that opened in 2024, has listed apartments for upwards of $8 million. Advertisement Down the beach, Cipriani Ocean Resort is marketing a penthouses for $17 million. 17 Luxury developments are booming in Uruguay, with high-end projects like Trump Tower Punta del Este and Cipriani Ocean Resort (pictured above) drawing international buyers with oceanfront penthouses priced up to $17 million. Cipriani Punta del Este/Facebook Silva noted that the lifestyle is hard to beat. 'You have the city, the coast and the countryside all within 15 minutes,' he said. Florida — but not Miami 17 Wellington, known for its world-class equestrian scene, draws ultra-wealthy buyers seeking privacy, land, and proximity to elite polo and riding events. Robert Stevens, courtesy of Qasanova Luxury The rationale for moving to the Sunshine State hasn't changed — zero state income tax, favorable weather and a business-friendly environment — but buyers are increasingly looking beyond the usual suspects like Miami and Palm Beach. 'We're seeing demand spread out a bit,' Jonathan Miller, CEO of real estate appraisal firm Miller Samuel, told NYNext. 'We're now seeing significant [multi-million dollar] transactions in Manalapan and Wellington.' Manalapan, a town of fewer than 500 residents just south of Palm Beach, made headlines in 2022 when Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison purchased a $173 million estate. The sale triggered a new wave of high-end buyers, including hedge funders — Chris Rokos has a $150 million property — musicians and developers. 17 Larry Ellison, pictured here at the Oracle Open World conference in San Francisco, owns a $173 million compound in Manalapan that set Florida's real estate record in 2022. Getty Images 17 Neighboring Ellison's compound, this $285 million mansion will span 54,570 square feet and include everything from a car museum and shooting range to a private bowling alley, golf simulator, and padel court. Courtesy of Holland PR In July 2025, developer Stewart Satter obtained approval to begin construction on a $285 million spec mansion directly adjacent to Ellison's property. If sold at that price, it will become the most expensive home in U.S. history. Wellington, an equestrian community about 20 miles inland, doesn't have ocean views, but the horsey set cares more about being near the showgrounds. Wellington's 12-week winter show circuit, the longest-running in the world, has turned the town into a seasonal hub for the super-rich, drawing Olympic riders, star polo players like Nacho Figueras and horsewoman-heiress such as Jessica Springsteen (daughter of Bruce) and Georgina Bloomberg (daughter of Michael). 17 Georgina Bloomberg participates in the Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic at the Wellington Equestrian Center on February 23, 2013, in Wellington. Larry Marano Matt Johnson, a luxury broker with 26 years of experience in the market, said many of his buyers tour stables in the area before looking at houses. He noted that the area has had 23 sales over $5 million in the past 18 months alone. 'The luxury market is the equestrian market,' Johnson told NYNext. Scottsdale, Arizona 17 High-net-worth individuals, primarily those from California and Seattle, are flocking to Scottsdale for its land, lifestyle, low taxes and lack of natural disasters. Matt Gush – In 2025, Scottsdale unseated Austin as the fastest-growing millionaire hub in the US, according to a Wealth Report conducted by Henley. The Phoenix suburb saw a 125% surge in millionaire residents from 2014 to 2024, fueled by remote work trends, a thriving tech sector and a flood of Californians — and some Seattleites — in search of lower taxes and peace of mind. Unlike coastal competitors, Arizona has no earthquakes, no hurricanes, and — compared to Florida — more forgiving winters. It also boasts something high-end buyers increasingly crave: land. '[They want] acreage, uninterrupted views, new builds, guest houses, pickleball courts, pools,' Scottsdale's preeminent luxury broker, Kelly Jones, told NYNext. 17 Arizona's flat 2.5% income tax — one of the lowest in the country — has become a major draw for wealthy individuals seeking financial efficiency and simplicity. BCFC – From a financial and legal perspective, Arizona's appeal begins with a flat 2.5% income tax — adopted in 2023, and still among the lowest in the country — and ends with favorable estate-planning laws. Moreover, friendly business regulations have streamlined everything from corporate formation to trust structuring to legal investments. High‑profile residents in Scottsdale and its surrounding suburbs reportedly include retired Phoenix Suns star Charles Barkley, retired race car driver Danica Patrick, actors Emma Stone and David Spade and GoDaddy founder Bob Parsons, who also owns the Scottsdale National Golf Club. All together, Scottsdale now hosts about 14,800 millionaires, 64 centi‑millionaires and five billionaires, per Henley. 'We continue to surprise ourselves,' Jones said. This story is part of NYNext, an indispensable insider insight into the innovations, moonshots and political chess moves that matter most to NYC's power players (and those who aspire to be). Milan, Italy 17 Milan is Italy's financial capital and one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Europe, offering international schools, luxury shopping and proximity to the Alps and lakes. Kavalenkava – The city is quickly transforming from the wealthiest in Italy to one of the wealthiest in continental Europea, predominantly because of Italy's special tax regime. Introduced in 2017, it's been dubbed the 'CR7 rule' after footballer Cristiano Ronaldo. He was one of the first to take advantage of the policy, which allows non-domiciled residents to pay a flat tax of no more than €200,000 (about $233,000) annually on all foreign-generated income. More recently, the rule has attracted prominent financiers like Elio Leoni-Sceti, founder of venture capital fund The Craftory; Bart Becht, former CEO of Reckitt Benckiser; Richard Gnodde, Goldman Sachs' investment banking vice chair; and Nassef Sawiris, Egyptian investor scion and billionaire. 17 Milan has become Europe's newest wealth magnet thanks to Italy's 'CR7 rule,' a 2017 tax policy — named for footballer Cristiano Ronaldo — that lets non-domiciled residents pay a flat tax of no more than €200,000 annually on all foreign-generated income. Getty Images 'Milan is a financial center with international schools and classy shopping precincts,' Dominic Lawrance — a partner at the London-based law firm Charles Russell Speechlys, which recently opened an office in Milan — told NYNext. 'The city is, by Italian standards, highly cosmopolitan.' Many making the move hail from London — which experienced a 12% decline in millionaire growth from 2014 to 2024 per Henley. Only Moscow saw a greater decline. 'Italy has benefited greatly from ill-judged tax reforms in the UK, which have had the unintended effect of driving away wealthy, mobile individuals,' Lawrance said. The Milanese even have a name for this migration: 'svuota Londra' or 'empty London.' Send NYNext a tip:nynextlydia@
Business Times
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Manhattan rents hit another record with more increases to come
[NEW YORK] Manhattan rents hit a record high for the fourth time in the past five months – and there's no relief in sight for apartment hunters in the market's busiest season. The median rent on new leases signed in June was US$4,625, up 7.6 per cent from a year earlier and US$54 more than the previous month, according to appraiser Miller Samuel and brokerage Douglas Elliman. Rents typically climb during the summer, but the pressure this year is intensified by the Fairness in Apartment Rental Expenses Act, which as at June bars landlords from imposing broker fees on their new tenants. Many experts warned that owners would instead roll the cost of those fees into annualised rents, and there are signs that's already begun, according to Jonathan Miller, president of Miller Samuel. 'The reality is the landlord isn't paying for broker commissions,' Miller said. 'They are passing it off in a different way and are building in a rent increase going forward.' On top of that, demand for rentals is expected to ramp up in the next couple of months as students and new graduates flock to the city, potentially driving prices even higher. Manhattan's listing inventory shrunk 12 per cent in June from May, leaving fewer choices for apartment hunters. In another sign of a fiercely competitive market, a quarter of new leases last month were signed after bidding wars, a record share for June, Miller said. Rents also rose in Brooklyn, where the median on new leases last month was US$3,733, up 1 per cent from a year earlier. And in Northwest Queens, including Astoria and Long Island City, the median jumped 11 per cent from a year earlier to US$3,600, but that was down US$25 from May. Some New Yorkers squeezed by higher housing costs have put their hopes in mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, who cinched the Democratic nomination in part for his promises to freeze prices on rent-stabilised apartments. However, some industry observers worry about unintended consequences. 'When you freeze rent, you are not freezing inflation,' Miller said. 'Real estate taxes rise, operating expenses rise. The first thing that goes is maintenance of buildings.' BLOOMBERG
Spectator
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Spectator
Jonathan Miller truly understood France
The last time I talked with The Spectator columnist Jonathan Miller was perhaps ten days ago, just before his unexpected death this week. He had a pre-digital habit, very 1980s, of ringing you up to chat, moan, laugh, explain, badmouth and joke for over an hour at a time. When he rang it always took me a couple of minutes to get reaccustomed to the colder waters of analogue conversation; but then we would have these long rambling discussions that don't much happen anymore. He'd sent me successive manuscripts of his book, Shock of the News: Confessions of Troublemaker, which he polished and repolished into the version coming out in three weeks' time . We'd unknowingly worked for the same Murdoch outfits over the years, coming from radically different places, he from Saskatchewan by way of Bedales, Cincinnati, Detroit and Washington; myself having escaped the obsequious, stultifying Parisian press to grab at the lowest rung at the newly Andrew Neil-edited Sunday Times. Down the line, Jonathan always sounded like the surdoué child of Damon Runyon and David English. His Spectator pieces annoyed many Parisian readers, because French political journalism doesn't prize either humour or forthrightness Some two decades ago, he'd settled with his wife Terry in a beautiful small Languedoc village between Montpellier and Béziers, the Roman university city and the rugby-mad Cathar fortress. It may not have been the reason why he chose the place, but it was inspired: you understand a lot more about France west of Marseille than in the Parisian-colonised Luberon or Var. As a European national, he became a conseiller municipal (alderman) until Brexit ended his tangle with French village administration. His Spectator pieces annoyed many Parisian readers, because French political journalism doesn't prize either humour or forthrightness. You have to be convoluted to impress your Sciences-Po classmates who made it into politics or the upper reaches of the civil service. Jonathan neither cared nor feared shocking the citoyens respectables – in Paris or even in his own village. One of his amusing pieces for the French conservative magazine Causeur accused some of his all-too-recognisable neighbours of doing DIY restoration in the village. The article included pictures of cinder block walls and vinyl double-glazed verandas taken metres from his home. He enjoyed the subsequent brouhaha immensely. We met on what was then known as Twitter, around 2017 or 2018, and then progressed through private messages, emails and WhatsApps, which I have been trawling through today. Eventually we met in person at my Paris New Year party. The Millers then invited me down south last May Day bank holiday, so that Jonathan and I could attend Marine Le Pen's first rally, a week after she was handed down a sentence which barred her from standing as president. We arrived three hours early to bag good seats in the public bleachers, not the press division, where all we could hope to get would be French colleagues rehashing the French bubble's accepted views of Le Pen (bad), her voters (Neanderthals) and the fate of French democracy (dire). 'Je suis Anglais', Jonathan would say to people at the rally: to shoe shop assistants; National Rally security guards; twentysomething waitresses coming to get a selfie with Jordan Bardella, Le Pen's deputy; pensioners moved to tears by the presence of a friendly television presenter from CNEWS, the French answer to GB News. That put him both outside people's everyday experience-based prejudices and made his genuine interest acceptable enough to get them talking. It was beautiful to watch. I bet that's the effect he had on cops in Minnesota and congressional aides in Washington DC, when he was reporting there years ago. I will miss him horribly.
Spectator
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Spectator
Remembering Jonathan Miller
Jonathan Miller liked to say that Emmanuel Macron was the gift that never stops giving. 'The Spectator can't get enough of him,' he told me. 'Macron serves up fresh spin, scandals and missteps, an endless supply of stories for any journalist willing to look behind the official line.' When we first crossed paths on X, we'd swap messages about ministers, café gossip, and the small absurdities that make French politics so irresistible. Jonathan was usually in his village in the Languedoc sunshine. He loved it there and seemed content when describing the rhythm of village life. Jonathan Miller made trouble where it mattered and never stopped When he wasn't working or with his family, he was walking the dogs, sitting in a café or talking to his French neighbours. He told me the magic of France was that it gave him endless stories, but also peace. He insisted French politics was a goldmine, that the stories wrote themselves if you looked behind the official line. Jonathan was a newsman through and through, who spent decades in the US and Canada – Detroit, Cincinnati, Dayton, Washington. He learnt his trade on the police beat, chasing crooked cops, city hall scandals and covering national and international stories. In his memoir, soon to be published, he recalls the days when a reporter could cross the yellow police tape with a press card and get the story before the competition. He and his colleagues kept police scanners on their desks so they could race to murder scenes before anyone else. He wrote about the thrill of learning to pick out the small details that made a story stand out. That sense of beating the pack, he said, kept him hooked on local journalism long before the foreign assignments came. He remembered stealing rubbish from administration buildings in Cincinnati to piece together city hall scandals and chasing down police corruption stories that others were too timid to touch. Andrew Neil once called him a 'bare-knuckle journalist'. He believed in the old Chicago city news bureau rule: 'If your mother says she loves you, check it out.' One of my favourite lines from his memoir goes back even further, when he was at school in Hampshire before his family moved to Canada for his father's job: 'When I was at Bedales School, my history teacher Ruth Whiting, in her signature green ink, scrawled on the bottom of one of my essays the single word, 'journalese'. She meant it as an insult. I took it as career advice. I didn't learn much else there. Pace Mark Twain, I never let schooling interfere with my education.' This is how Jonathan saw the trade: something you learn by doing, with your eyes wide open. In Kosovo, he found himself less interested in the press pack chase for war footage than in getting a single family out of the country to safety. A reminder, he said, that not every journalist had to be as cold-blooded as the job sometimes demanded. His memoir is full of these scraps: the dark corners of American city politics, the Detroit murders, the Dayton city hall intrigue, the stolen documents, the small acts of compassion that don't make headlines. Jonathan was the one who told me to try my hand at The Spectator. He encouraged me to be braver, sharper, and to lose my caution. 'You're too much the lawyer', he'd say. 'Don't sit on the fence. You have an opinion, write it. And for heaven's sake, don't be afraid to offend.' He enjoyed coaching me through a lead paragraph, needling me when I hedged. He'd call after a piece went up, to push me further. He went out of his way to be generous with his time, ringing just to say what he thought, the best sort of advice any writer can get. This past year, he spent much of his time writing his memoir. It is a proper, unapologetic look at the journalism trade, the spike on the desk, the moments when you need to write unflinchingly, even when editors urge caution. Jonathan's book, Shock of the News: Confessions of a Troublemaker, comes out this August with Gibson Square Books. It's an ode to the dead-tree press and for the troublemakers who made it matter, told by someone who never forgot what the job was for. Jonathan Miller made trouble where it mattered and never stopped. He knew that good stories ruffle feathers, that good journalists never get too comfortable, that you should never trust the official version without first checking the bins behind the building. I'll miss him. And so will journalism, the kind that still remembers what real trouble looks like.
