Since his first car dealership business went bust, he has outwitted the Soviets, broken an oil embargo in South Africa, had his home firebombed by anti-apartheid protesters and helped clinch the world's largest oil deal. In the process, the Dutchman has made billions of dollars.

Former Bermuda-based journalist David Marchant is editor and publisher of the investigative web site www.OffshoreAlert.com.