LONDON - Paul Raymond, described by some as "Britain's Larry Flynt," has died at the age of 82.
Raymond made his name as a pornographer, property magnate and strip club owner, becoming known as the "King of Soho." He was believed to have been worth at least 600 million pounds at the time of his death.
He was born Geoffrey Anthony Quinn in Liverpool in 1925, rising to prominence as the owner of the Raymond Revuebar in 1957, a pioneering members-only strip club. Raymond opened the venue after realizing that private clubs were exempt from the rules regarding nudity on stage.
He later went on to own various erotic magazines, including Razzle, Men Only and Mayfair. He is credited with creating the market for such top-shelf glossies with the launch of Men Only in 1971.
Later in life Raymond invested in real estate, particularly in property in London's Soho. A police crackdown on the sex industry in the area forced many shops to close, and Raymond shrewdly took advantage of the falling markets to buy up large parts. His property interests helped him maintain his status as one of Britain's most wealthy men in spite of slumping sales in his adult entertainment empire in recent years partly due to competition from magazines such as Loaded and FHM. He was listed at No. 62 in the Sunday Times Rich List 2004.
