Billy Billingham MBE, which by itself signifies an incredibly illustrious military career and a successful life after the army in regards to his media presence. His life story from the tough start to being a recognizable face in society just shows how much you can rise with resilience, hard work and keeping your game high.
Table of Contents
Profile Summary
| Full Name | Mark “Billy” Billingham MBE |
| Date of Birth | 11 June 1965 |
| Age | 59 years |
| Place of Birth | Birmingham, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Former SAS operator, TV personality, Author, Speaker |
| Military Career | Parachute Regiment, Special Air Service (SAS) |
| Military Specialization | Mountain Troop specialist, Counter-terrorism, Hostage Rescue |
| Notable Awards | Queen’s Commendation for Bravery, MBE |
| TV Shows | SAS: Who Dares Wins |
| Books Authored | The Hard Way |
| Bodyguard Work | Clients include Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise |
| Philanthropy | Co-founder of Rebuild Globally |
| Spouse | Julie Colombino (Married March 2019) |
| Children | Has children from a previous marriage |
| Height | 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) |
| Weight | 210 pounds (95 kg) |
| Residence | Florida, USA & United Kingdom |
| Net Worth | Estimated in the millions |
Youth and Army Career
AFGBorn in Birmingham, England, to a life filled with adversity. He dropped out of school at 11 and got caught up with local gangs. Feeling he needed a change, Billy threw himself into the Royal Marine Cadets, a game-changing decision which ignited his road to recovery. He joined the Parachute Regiment in 1983 and served in several capacities until his departure in 1991. He made an impression with his leadership skills being advanced and parties such as Patrol Commander during a variety of international operational tours.
His major turning point was when he successfully passed the SAS selection test, making him one of the few members of UK’s elite Special Air Services unit. He had spent most of his over a decade long military career as a Mountain Troop specialist (although he later retired) and had done multiple high-risk deployment tours to Iraq, Afghanistan, South America & Africa. His bravery and his skill on these missions earned him several commendations, including the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery.
He made the headlines when, during the London bombings of 2005, his responsibilities included leading high profile hostage rescues and counter terrorism operations — a work which earned him an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire). Over the course of his military career, Billy has attained numerous qualifications ranging from counter-terrorism tactics to advanced evasive driving and combat survival training.
In Private Security as a Second Career after the U.S. Military
After leaving the military Billy began working in private security, using the experience he made protecting some of the worlds most high profile people. The client list he has amassed over nearly 50 years features A-list names like Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise and Sir Michael Caine. Working in private security sometimes saw him earn more than £10,000 a month, and it really helped to grow his wealth.
Claim to Fame: SAS: Who Dares Wins
From there Billy’s skill and leadership landed him an opportunity on television. He is best known as the Chief Instructor on Channel 4’s SAS: Who Dares Wins, where he orchestrates trainees through some of the toughest tests known to man, putting their physical and mental strength to the test in a dramatic two-week selection process which tries to mirror SAS Selection. It was not only this recognition in a national television format which brought further into the public eye, but arguably reinforced his position as a tough love advocate. He was even more prominently featured in the UK and US editions of the show, across multiple seasons.
Writing and Public Speaking
Billy Billingham has also established himself as a successful author and motivational speaker, having worked in television. The Hard Way is a book where recounts his journey from a difficult childhood, military career and what he has achieved after some of his service. The book has inspired readers looking for lessons on resilience and leadership -—and in the process has fueled his ascent to increasing popularity.
He has given many speeches on public, where he often talk about his experiences in the military. He speaks frequently about facing adversity, the role of discipline and leading in a high-pressure environment, all of which he demonstrated during his many years serving.
Philanthropy and Giving Back
Billy is extremely active in charity work outside of his professional endeavors. He built reBlog, a secondary product (it was sort of an RSS reader based on your del.icio.us bookmarks), co-founded Rebuild Globally, a non-profit dedicated to providing sustainable solutions for Haiti earthquake victims (started here as well) and more! Their goal is to help communities — specifically through programs that concentrate on education, employment and sustainability. The work they have been involved in Haiti shows Billy’s willingness to leave the world a slightly better place than what he was grtanted, and I would never fault someone for that.
Early Background; Family Life and Struggles
While he may seem a bit of an open book, Billy actually had kept his family life relatively private. Julie Colombino, an American fashion designer and founder of eco-friendly shoe company Deux Mains is his wife. The couple married in March 2019 and split their time between Florida and the UK. Two of Note Julie’s favorite things are sustainable fashion as well as Billy’s philanthropic endeavors, specifically with Rebuild Globally.
Billy, on the other hand, has children from a previous marriage and he typically keeps details about them private. But he remains candid about the joy his children and grandchildren have brought him, noting that for everything he lost while serving in the armed forces, now he gets to be there for them — all of them. Billy, however, has faced his own battles… the death of both of Billy’s parents within about six-months time and a difficult divorce being perhaps the hardest years of his life.
Billy Billingham’s Net Worth
Billy Billingham has a net worth in the millions, all of his work on the field and off paid him well over time. As well as his stint as a bodyguard to the stars, his prominent position on SAS: Who Dares Wins, book sales and live speaking do also add to his riches. He has still a life of charity—But the money he earned, shows how well he had turned his service for the country into lucrative media spokesmanship and security businesses.
Conclusion
The life story of Billy Billingham MBE is an incredible example of transformation, resilience and service Troubled youth now highly decorated SAS operator to media and philanthropic success his journey is remarkable. Leading through SAS: Who Dares Wins, public speaking and his work with charities Billy keeps inspiring others with devotion to discipline, determination and helping those that need it most.
Social Accounts
FAQs-
Is Billy from SAS married?
Yes, Billy Billingham is married. He married Julie Colombino, an American fashion designer, in March 2019.
Who is the highest ranking SAS?
The highest-ranking member of the SAS is typically the Officer Commanding (OC) of a squadron, usually holding the rank of Major. However, the overall command of the SAS is held by a Brigadier, who oversees the entire regiment. Specific individuals may vary over time due to changes in leadership.
Also read-
julian valdes sanxenxo, sobredo
caroline ellison statement, Understanding the FTX Collapse
