Iwan and Manuela Wirth, owners of the global art gallery Hauser & Wirth, have relocated their permanent residency from the United Kingdom to Switzerland, where the gallery’s holding company is based. The move was registered in documents filed with Companies House this month, and the gallery confirmed to the Financial Times that the decision was for personal reasons, unrelated to tax law changes. Despite the relocation, the Wirths plan to open a new London location in 2026, and their UK gallery reported a 13 percent drop in turnover to £144 million in 2023.
The relocation occurs amid broader reports of wealthy individuals leaving the UK following the end of non-dom tax status and inheritance tax reforms under Chancellor Rachel Reeves. While some financial advisers debate the impact, a 2024 study from the London School of Economics challenged claims of a significant “wealth exodus,” suggesting such reports were overstated. The Wirths’ move highlights ongoing tensions between personal residency choices and continued investment in the UK art market, as well as the influence of tax policy on high-profile art-world figures.