Mathieu Flamini, a former Arsenal and France international, recently had an audience with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace. This meeting comes after Flamini has reportedly become the wealthiest former professional footballer worldwide, largely due to his ventures in the bioeconomy.
Flamini shared images from the event at Buckingham Palace, where he participated in a summit alongside other industry leaders focused on the bioeconomy. The former midfielder took to Instagram to share his thoughts, highlighting the importance of the sector.
In his post, Flamini stated, “His Majesty King Charles is stepping up for the bioeconomy. Europe is at a turning point. Act now, or fall behind. The U.S. is scaling. China is accelerating.” He further elaborated on the challenges Europe faces, noting, “Meanwhile, Europe’s industrial edge, especially in chemicals (now just 13 per cent globally) is shrinking. The solution? Green chemistry. The technology is ready. What we need is speed and ambition.”
He urged for decisive action, proposing, “Now is the moment for bold action in Biotech Act II: Create demand (30 per cent bio-based by 2030) (and) Extend CBAM to chemicals.” Flamini concluded by emphasizing Europe's potential, asserting, “Europe won’t win on price with China, but it can lead on innovation, sustainability, and responsibility. Strong leadership is here. Now it’s time to deliver.”
The 42-year-old, who concluded his playing career in 2019, has amassed substantial wealth. Flamini is a co-founder of GF Biochemicals, a company dedicated to developing sustainable substitutes for products derived from fossil fuels. His estimated net worth stands at £10 billion.
GF Biochemicals concentrates on replacing petrochemicals with environmentally friendly alternatives for various industrial applications. Since retiring from professional football, Flamini has emerged as a significant voice in climate innovation and environmental advocacy.
He co-founded GF Biochemicals nine years prior to his retirement and later assumed the role of CEO. Flamini has previously spoken about his long-standing interest in environmental issues, remarking, “As a child, I had two passions: football and sustainability.”
During his playing days, Flamini made 246 appearances for Arsenal across two separate periods. He initially joined the North London club from Marseille, his boyhood team, shortly after their unbeaten 'Invincibles' season in 2003-04.
His initial tenure at Arsenal spanned four seasons, during which he contributed to the team's victory in the 2005 FA Cup. After a successful period in Italy with AC Milan, where he secured the Serie A title in the 2010-11 season, the French player returned to Arsenal in 2013. He went on to win two more FA Cups during his second spell with the club.
Flamini departed Arsenal in 2016 and subsequently played for Crystal Palace and Spanish side Getafe, where he played his final professional matches before retiring in 2019. He also earned three caps for the French national team and was recognised as Arsenal Player of the Season for 2007-08.
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