Someone who purchases a castle, declares herself its queen, and then departs the nation in protest has a certain allure, particularly if that person amassed her wealth from nothing. Dr. Ann Kaplan Mulholland became a symbol of changing wealth behavior around the world in addition to making headlines for her audacious tax rebellion.
She turned niche lending into a very successful business model after starting iFinance Canada from the ground up. Long before it became popular, her company offered financing for medical and cosmetic procedures. She wasn’t prepared to live a quiet retirement after selling it for a substantial amount of money. Rather, she invested £15 million in the restoration of Lympne Castle, a Kent estate from the 13th century that was formerly associated with Henry VIII.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Dr. Ann Kaplan Mulholland |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Profession | Entrepreneur, Former Reality TV Star |
| Known For | Founder of iFinance Canada, Owner of Lympne Castle |
| Estimated Net Worth | £500 million (approx. $640 million USD) |
| Spouse | Dr. Stephen Mulholland, Plastic Surgeon |
| UK Investment | Purchased Lympne Castle (£5.5M), Spent £15M on Renovations |
| Current Residence | Milan, Italy (relocated in late 2025) |
| Policy Trigger for Exit | Abolition of UK non-dom tax status |
| Reference | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Kaplan_Mulholland |
Her story has changed significantly over the last few years, going from being a financially strapped single mother in Toronto to becoming one of the most vocal opponents of the UK’s tax reforms. Kaplan Mulholland reacted quickly and strategically to Labour’s 2025 repeal of the non-dom regime by moving to Milan, where flat taxes are advantageous for investors.
She didn’t leave quietly. She threw a coronation-themed farewell party while wearing royal robes and surrounded by jesters and drag queens in golden attire. Yes, it was dramatic, but it was also a tactical cue. She wasn’t leaving because she was angry. She was departing for moral reasons.
Kaplan Mulholland has created a brand based on tenacity and accuracy by fusing entrepreneurship with public persona. I read that she once compared the process of raising her kids after a divorce to a “start-up, merger, and acquisition.” In addition to being humorous, that line stuck with me because it was remarkably true for a woman who is always creating something.
She is one of many affluent people who have quietly changed their residency status since the tax changes. She organized a symbolic parade, in contrast to many who departed in silence. However, there is a remarkably successful financial strategy hidden behind the satire. For people with a variety of international assets, Italy’s €200,000 annual flat tax on foreign income is especially advantageous.
However, after only four years of residency, the UK made the decision to tax long-term residents on their worldwide income. For Ann, this meant that her foreign real estate holdings, inherited trusts, and prior business holdings suddenly became liabilities. The decision to depart was deliberate rather than impulsive.
She continues to employ more than 100 people in the UK through strategic reinvestment. She moved, but she hasn’t sold Lympne Castle. It is still in operation and represents the meeting point of private capital and public policy more than ever.
More than just wealth has been created by Kaplan Mulholland by incorporating emotion into business. She has created stories that question established conventions. She contributed tens of millions to the local economy while she was in Britain. She gamed the system, according to her detractors. She gave more than she took, according to her supporters.
Her inability to remain motionless is what stands out the most. Her empire, which includes properties in Canada, Las Vegas, Hawaii, and now Milan, is about mobility as much as value. She has shown how wealth is now determined by agility and independence in addition to numerical values.
Her story reveals something deeper in a world where regulatory scrutiny is growing and tax policy is becoming more stringent. Rich people are actively influencing their surroundings rather than just passively adapting. Kaplan Mulholland did more than simply depart from Britain. She changed the conditions of participation.
Perseverance has been the driving force behind her journey. She recalls going without food on some nights while taking care of two toddlers under two in previous interviews. She was obviously shaped by that adversity. With the same determination she used to get daycare, she now manages castle renovations and international tax planning.
She has developed into a perceptive analyst on money, power, and what it means to create something enduring through appearances and interviews. She doesn’t ask for pity and isn’t afraid to stir things up.
More than 10,000 millionaires have quietly left the UK since its policy change. She was one of the few who made headlines. However, few people made their fortunes the way she did, risk by risk, layer by layer.
Ann Kaplan Mulholland reminds us that protest doesn’t have to be angry—it can be beautifully choreographed—and that entrepreneurship isn’t always quiet. Her wealth fluctuates. It is nimble, especially creative, and obviously in motion.
Furthermore, it’s becoming more and more clear that she may have left the castle, but not the stage, as she keeps extending her influence from Milan.
