He's one of the world's most prolific art collectors but has remained fiercely private. Here Charles Saatchi reveals some of thoughts on life, art and women...

By Charles Saatchi - PUBLISHED:  17 March 2012

Charles Saatchi first came to public attention when he co-founded the Saatchi & Saatchi advertising agency in 1970. 
Today, he is known as one of the world’s most prolific collectors of art – and as husband to television cook and writer Nigella Lawson, his third wife.
Although he remains intensely private, his new book answers questions from readers and journalists to reveal highly original – and occasionally startling – observations on life, art and women . . . 

Charles Saatchi(left) is a prolific art collector and is married to Nigella Lawson(right)

Do you believe in miracles?

I left school with two O-levels, drove a delivery van in Willesden, worked in a packaging plant in Brooklyn, as a busboy in a bar in New York, petrol pump attendant in Missouri, telesales and then shoe shop salesman in Los Angeles and a voucher clerk in a small London advertising firm, after being rejected for an interview by all ten of London’s top agencies . . . Oh yes, I do believe in miracles.

Do you believe in the Ten Commandments?

An overrated lifestyle guide, unsustainable and largely ineffective, only succeeding in making people confused and guilty. For example: You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, nor his house, nor his servant nor his ox, nor his donkey etc.
This was obviously a no-hoper. Coveting is all everyone does, all the time, every day. It’s what drives the world economy, pushes people to make a go of their lives, so that they can afford the executive model of their Ford Mondeo to park next to their neighbour’s standard model. And who would want to be married to someone who nobody coveted?

How do you feel about women spending £1,000 on a pair of shoes or £2,000 on a handbag?

I once thought it best not to bother putting a stop on a wife’s stolen credit cards, on the basis that the thieves couldn’t possibly spend money as fast as she did.

What are you most embarrassed by?

The hideousness of the contem-porary art world. Being an art buyer these days is comprehensively and indisputably vulgar. It is the sport of the Eurotrashy, Hedgefundy, Hamptonites; of trendy Oligarchs and Oiligarchs.
They were found nestling in their superyachts together in Venice for last year’s spectacular Art Biennale. Venice is now on the calendar of this new art world alongside St Barts at Christmas and St Tropez in August, in a giddy round of glamour-filled socialising, from one swanky party to another

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2116410/Hes-worlds-prolific-art-collectors-remained-fiercely-private-Here-Charles-Saatchi-reveals-thoughts-life-art-women-.html#ixzz1pa9LE9XA

© Charles Saatchi 2012. Be The Worst You Can Be: Life’s Too Long For Patience & Virtue is published by Booth-Clibborn Editions, priced £9.99.