Tony Blair Insists He's Not 'Super-Rich' Despite Earning Millions Every Year

Multi-Millionaire Blair Denies Being 'Super-Rich' Multi-Millionaire
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Tony Blair, former U.K. prime minister, arrives to speak during the Aspen Ideas Festival in Aspen, Colorado.
Bloomberg via Getty Images

Property mogul and former prime minister Tony Blair has prompted bemused reactions from political commentators - by claiming he is "not super-rich".

The ex-Labour leader made the bold claim in an interview with Newsweek, saying his earnings contributed to "infrastructure".

"Am I better off than most people? Yeah, I'm very lucky," he told Newsweek. "Am I in the league of the super-rich? Absolutely not, though you will have to make up your own mind about that."

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Blair has previously refuted claims he is worth over £100million, despite his six London houses and Buckinghamshire mansion being estimated at £25million collectively.

"For the record, I read that I’m supposed to be worth £100million. Cherie’s asking me where it is."

Since leaving Downing Street in 2007, Blair is reported to have earned millions every year from consultancy roles as well as charging upwards of £250,000 to speak at events.

He claims to have donated large chunks of his income to charity and says the majority of his earnings go to propping up the vast infrastructure of offices organising his affairs.

Blairites For/Against Ed Miliband
For: Tessa Jowell(01 of06)
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Jowell, formerly culture secretary under Blair, told HuffPostUK's Mehdi Hasan that Miliband is "very funny, incredibly warm, very empathetic".
Against: Alan Milburn(02 of06)
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Blair's former health secretary recently laid into Miliband for not being pro-business enough, warning: "The Eds need to say it and look like they really mean it."
Against: John Reid(03 of06)
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Lord Reid, Blair's former home secretary, warned last year that Miliband's Labour should stop being a "voice of protest" and offer "solutions".
For: Andrew Adonis(04 of06)
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Lord Adonis, formerly an advisor in Blair's No 10 Policy Unit, has been working on his "growth review" for Ed Miliband.
For: John McTernan(05 of06)
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McTernan, former head of political strategy for Blair, has praised Miliband for his "steel' and remarked that he was emerging as the "true heir to Blair".
Against: John Rentoul(06 of06)
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Blair's biographer John Rentoul has previously said that Miliband "has to go" if Labour is to win.