‘I left the SAS and made £10,000 a month as a celebrity bodyguard’

Mark Billingham, 58, served 27 years in the Forces, starting as a cadet, then in the Parachute Regiment before joining the SAS. He served in Afghanistan, Iraq, South America and Africa, leading high-profile hostage negotiations and was the SAS Ground Commander for the 2005 London terror attacks. 

An author of three books, he joined the TV series SAS: Who Dares Wins in 2016. He has six children aged between 15 to 34, and splits his time between Florida and his static caravan in Herefordshire, with his second wife Julie.

How did your childhood influence your attitude towards money and work?

I was the middle of five kids, and we lived in a three-bed terrace house on an estate in Walsall, near Birmingham. Both my parents were labourers doing 12-hour shifts in a factory. Their work ethic was second to none.

There was no sitting about, taking money off the state. He didn’t believe in handouts. We had to get up and earn. I helped our milkman from the age of five, then I had a paper round. My parents taught me not to abuse money, to respect it and use it wisely.

What drew you to the military?

I was really wayward as a kid, ran with gangs and got into trouble. I discovered cadets at 11 after I dropped out of school. The beauty of it was their old-fashioned way of discipline; you stepped out of line, and you knew there were consequences. 

And I was being taught real practical skills like saving lives, how to read a map, how to survive really. I wasn’t academic at all. I’m very practical and I’ll keep going at it until I get it right. 

The uniform gave me pride. I wanted to make something of myself.

Do you ever worry about money?

I don’t worry about it, not because I certainly ain’t flush. As long as I can put my card into a cashpoint and be able to take enough money out to pay my bills and go to have a drink, I’m happy.

I’m not materialistic. I’ve got enough to do what I want to do, which along with my wife is helping people through our charity, Rebuild Globally (www.rebuildglobally.org). 

It’s not to get a pat on the back or to brag about it, but I’ve been in that position where we’ve had nothing and it’s a struggle. There’s no better pay cheque than to help people make a better life for themselves.

What’s been the hardest time for you financially?

When I left the Army for good in December 2015, after having been in the reserves for my later years, I was trying to find my feet in civvy street. 

I didn’t have a great deal of work going on and I fell behind on my bills. I tried hard to stay on top of things, but I really struggled. 

I went from a structured regime with a sense of purpose to feeling like I was nobody. I’d been with them for almost 30 years, and I wasn’t prepared for the transition. 

Growing up, we had nothing, but I was just a kid then and didn’t care as much.

…And the best time financially?

Having been in the special forces, you’re a wanted person in security services because we’re known for our capabilities. 

An ex-regiment friend of mine had already left and was running security for lots of A-list celebrities. He wanted people he could trust – like me. 

So, in 2007, I became a bodyguard to celebrities like Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Russell Crowe, and Angelina Jolie. It was hard work and very long hours. 

I was making over £10,000 a month, which was three times as much as I’d been making in the military. With bodyguarding, you don’t necessarily get a long-term contract. 

But I was with Brad and Angelina for 17 months. I had stability and got on top of my bills. Those were the best years of my life financially.