In late 2022, Chakrit Sakunkrit, proprietor of the Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary on Thailand’s Koh Samui island, hosted 200 guests for his 60th birthday celebration. During one warm afternoon, Sakunkrit and a few others sat at a seaside table encircled by fortunate burgundy plants. To his right, in casual attire, was Nigel Farage. Following Brexit’s success three years prior, which fulfilled his major goal, Farage’s influence had waned. Some allies even viewed him as irrelevant. Amid the Conservative Party’s turmoil after Liz Truss’s failed budget that fall, Farage suggested an even bolder aim: becoming prime minister. At Kamalaya, Sakunkrit’s sessions for visitors cover topics like essential nutrients or ancient chimes. He once shared a near-death experience from his late 40s, driven by excessive work and poor diet choices like chocolate milk and snacks for sustained energy over long hours. Now, with a calm and reassuring tone, he contemplates reaching age 120. Sakunkrit speaks fluent English and is originally from England. He adopted his Thai name, meaning the alert or vigilant one, upon gaining citizenship there in 2011. It appears in some business records, while others use his birth name from Mosborough near Sheffield on December 18, 1962: Christopher Charles Sherriff Harborne. In the last seven years, Harborne has donated over £22 million to Farage’s political group, representing two-thirds of Reform UK’s total funds (formerly the Brexit Party). This makes it exceptionally reliant on one donor among UK parties. The £9 million given in August was the biggest single contribution from a living individual, followed by £3 million in November. Three years ago at the Thailand gathering, the notion of Farage as prime minister seemed absurd to many. Now, with Harborne’s funds bolstering resources for upcoming local elections in May, Farage’s party leads betting odds for the most seats in the next national vote. Harborne’s legal team describes him as highly private. He has offered no public rationale for his contributions. When questioned in December, Farage stated that the donor seeks nothing in exchange and simply believes the UK has not fully capitalized on Brexit or advanced in modern technologies. One such innovation, cryptocurrency, has significantly boosted Harborne’s fortune. He invested early in digital assets that have risen sharply in value. He is among a handful of secretive tech figures owning Tether, the issuer of the leading traded cryptocurrency. Based in El Salvador with a small team, Tether is noted as historically the most profitable firm per staff member. It has released $184 billion in stablecoins, popular for cross-border transfers and in high-inflation areas. However, billions in these stablecoins have been used illegally by criminals, fraudsters, those evading Russian sanctions, North Korean cybercriminals, and others avoiding banking oversight. Farage promotes Tether. On LBC radio in September, after Harborne’s major donation, he described it as a stablecoin facilitating transitions between traditional money and cryptocurrencies. He predicted Tether’s valuation at $500 billion. He added that the cryptocurrency sector is vast and urged London to become a hub for it. While advocating for appropriate oversight, he planned to meet the Bank of England’s leader to oppose a proposed limit on stablecoin holdings, which prompted some associates to think about leaving the country. He criticized the bank for being outdated and resistant to innovation. If Farage aids Tether in reaching a $500 billion valuation—exceeding Mastercard and nearly doubling HSBC—it would position the Kamalaya owner among the world’s wealthiest. The Harborne family holds cherished English roots, akin to those valued by Farage and his supporters. Christopher’s forebear, RC Sherriff, authored wartime stories like The Dam Busters and Journey’s End. Harborne seems to inherit his mother’s disposition and his father’s career path. Mark Vellacott, an aviation entrepreneur, friend of Harborne’s deceased sister Katharine, and Reform candidate in local elections, shared family details. He portrayed Joan as a tough woman from Yorkshire.
