HE’S the snooker sharpshooter who is renowned for his love of the simpler things in life.
Despite being the world No1 and worth a whopping £14million, Ronnie ‘the Rocket’ O’Sullivan hasn’t let wealth or fame go to his head.
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After a scrappy 6-3 victory against Barry Hawkins in the Masters quarter-final last night, he revealed he wasn’t going to celebrate with an upmarket meal.
“I fancy a curry – a massive, dirty curry,” seven-time world champion Ronnie said. “There’s nothing like it.”
The 48-year-old is renowned for having modest tastes including a love of canal boats and a preference for “everyday cars” rather than flashy supercars.
Here we reveal some of the surprising ways Ronnie has spent some of his £14million fortune.
High street splurges
In his younger years, Ronnie was a renowned party animal who regularly was spotted on nights out with Oasis’ Liam Gallagher and Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood.
He’s now sober but during a stint where he still drank, the sportsman admitted he would allow himself an occasional moment to “blast it” – meaning a several-day drinking binge.
In 2013, Ronnie told the Financial Times: “If there’s 365 days in the year I allow myself the odd binge. That might last one day, two days, three days, and I just get it out my system.”
Nowadays he spends more time focusing on keeping fit – but he still makes a few odd purchases, including spending sprees before big matches.
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Ahead of his World Championship final victory over Judd Trump in 2022, the star revealed he had gone shopping in Sheffield city centre.
In an interview with turner snooker professional Alan McManus, it was revealed he was “buying some undies” a mere “90 minutes before kickoff”.
Ronnie revealed he also purchased running shoelaces and “must have bought about 15 pairs”. He described the High Street splurge as a “little treat for myself to get out [of] the hotel”.
He added: “If I had an hour spare – rather than sit in the room, stewing thinking I’ve got two hours to go – just go down to the running shop, buy these sets of laces.
“I bought loads of pairs. I was just buying them as presents for people. So people that I knew who would appreciate it.
“Another thing was the underpants. I found these new underpants. I bought a few of these pairs and had run out so I thought I’d better go and get some more.
“It was an opportunity for me to get out and treat myself to something – make myself feel good. Something normal to pass the time.”
£129k boat
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Ronnie lives in a sprawling mansion in Chigwell, Essex, but wasn’t always so keen to remain on dry land.
In 2007, he owned a barge named Double Kiss – also the name of his 2017 novel – and found it to be a perfect escape.
Ronnie told Eurosport: “I lived on a boat about seven or eight years, I had it in London and I loved it.
“I had three or four months living on it but I couldn’t use it because I had to get back to work and stuff but I always had it in my mind that one day I’d buy another one.
“I couldn’t sit in a hotel for three or four hours but I’d come here have a little kip put the snooker on, put my TV on, a few friends come in. You don’t feel like you’re cooped up so much.”
By 2018, Ronnie owned a luxury 60ft canal boat, named Morfe Lady Three, which had a spacious lounge, a cosy fireplace and a modern kitchen.
He chose to sell the vessel, which was moored in London’s Regent’s Canal, just a year later – it was listed for £129,950.
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At the time, The Evening Standard claimed he had not spent a full night aboard the boat due to his busy work schedule.
Despite the claims, Ronnie maintains his love of being on the water. In 2022, he revealed plans to spend some of his £500,000 Crucible winnings on a rigid inflatable boat.
He said: “I might go to the Lake District, I’ve already got like a house boat up there but I might go and buy a little RIB (rigid inflatable boat) and explore the lake and just have some fun.”
Aside from boats, Ronnie is known to have a property company and was tempted to become a developer after being inspired by a popular home renovation show.
In 2013, he said: “I love Homes Under The Hammer, I get excited by it. I used to go around with a mate and we used to buy a lot of stuff, so I’ve got a rough idea about it.”
Ronnie revealed he had been to a couple of property auctions but “never bought at one”.
Aside from having a property company, the sportsman opened up The Ronnie O’Sullivan Snooker Shop, in Sheffield’s Meadowhall shopping centre, back in 2021, where he sells signed memorabilia including a snooker cue for £395.
He also opened The Ronnie O’Sullivan Snooker Academy in Singapore, China.
‘Everyday cars’
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From Ferraris to Aston Martins and Porsches, Ronnie has owned several flashy motors over the years – but insists he prefers “everyday cars”.
They include his family saloon, an Audi RS4 Avant, which he bought for £57,000 and described as “the b*****ks” and “beautiful”.
He said: “I’ve always liked everyday cars… Give me an RS4 for every day and a 911 for a bit of fun and I’m done, mate. I’m buzzing.
“But if I had to have one car, I’d go for the RS4 Avant because I still get that thrill.”
Previously, Ronnie owned a £183,000 Ferrari 458 but returned it because he “couldn’t stand the attention” he got while driving around.
He was similarly unimpressed with an Aston Martin DB8, which cost £130,000 – a vehicle famously used by Daniel Craig in James Bond films.
“That was a bag of s***. I won’t buy another one of them,” Ronnie said. “The radio button fell off in my hand. Went to get the door handle and that came off.”
In his earlier years, Ronnie owned a few BMWs when he used to “tear around” the streets and was “a menace on the road”.
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He said: “I was a lunatic. I went through three Beamers in the space of nine months. But it’s no good… I’m much more educated now. I’ve calmed down.”
There was also a BMW M5 in his collection, which cost around £110,000, but Ronnie wasn’t keen.
He said: “Got shot of that. Didn’t like that. Fantastic engine but it drives like a boat. I hated the size of it.”
The only flashy motor Ronnie seemed to be impressed by was a Porsche 911 that cost around £97,000 and he described as “unbelievable”.
Other cars he’s owned included a £180,000 Bentley Continental GT, an £82,000 BMW M3, a £74,000 Mercedes 500SL and a £131,000 Audi R8 that he “loved” despite crashing it.
Ronnie also once splurged £2,500 on the personalised licence plate CUE BOY – CUE 130Y from Jimmy White before selling it back to him.
He recalled: “I had it on for about two weeks. I didn’t like the attention. Everyone knew where I was the night before. So I said to Jim, ‘You can have that back, mate.’”
‘Impulsive breaks’
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Ronnie is known to go on “impulsive long weekends away” with long-term partner Laila Rouass including trips to Cambridge, Bruges and Marrakesh.
He told The Times that during his trip to Morroco, he was “freaked out” after seeing “a bloke with an enormous python around his neck” and promptly “went back to the hotel”.
Thankfully, some of their other trips have been more relaxing including a 2017 trip to Cambridge, when he and Laila were seen taking a tranquil boat ride down the River Cam.
In 2022, the couple were photographed outside their home lugging heavy suitcases ahead of jetting off on a romantic getaway to an unknown destination.
A source at the time told The Mirror the trip provided “much-needed bit of R and R” for the couple, who had rekindled their romance after a temporary split.
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Ronnie is also required to travel as part of his work – but still finds time to sneak away for some relaxation and private time.
On Instagram, he shared photos of himself while travelling in China and Thailand including a beautiful Buddhist temple with a large golden statue of Buddha.
While he often shies away from the spoils of fame, Ronnie posted a photograph of himself and artist pal Damien Hirst on the steps of a red private jet, which he captioned: “Beats the bus.”
There have also been photos from luxurious hotel balcony in Sofia, Bulgaria, and snaps from Ireland, which he said was “one of my fav places in the world” and had “the most delicious food”.
In 2022, Ronnie fled the UK’s chilly weather over the festive period to stay in the United Arab Emirates and was photographed on a quad bike on Christmas morning.
Ronnie has also been known to take breaks away to luxury relaxation resorts including Champneys Spas with pals.
