With an estimated wealth of over £240 million, Sir Rod Stewart is certainly not shy of a pretty penny - and we don’t just mean his wife, Lady Penelope Lancaster.
The 78-year-old music legend is known to donate to charitable causes, gifted money for patient care, and taken the government to task over their running of the NHS.
Sir Rod - who has been married to model Lady Penny, since 2007 - built up his impressive fortune after breaking into the music scene back in the 1960s.
But far from being a cheapskate, the music icon has been well known for helping others out during their time of need by being generous with his time as well as his money.
Charity donations
Sir Rod personal trainer, 63-year-old Gary O’Connor, waxed lyrical about the musician’s generosity earlier this year when he sponsored him to face a gruelling charity hike.
Gary, who has been helping the Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? singer keep in fine shape for more than 20 years, was touched when the star gave his blessing to use his name to draw attention to the fact he was climbing the Pen Y Fan mountain in Wales to raise funds for Myeloma UK via a Just Giving appeal.
The personal trainer was taking part in the annual SAS Fan Dance charity event where members of the public can traverse the intensive training grounds that the SAS use to train their recruits.
And Rod helped Gary and his friend Lee raise thousands of pounds for their cause - as well as bringing his star power to their fundraiser.
Gary explained to the Express: “It’s something I’m doing because it’s linked intrinsically with the charity that supports research for my sister.
“Ordinarily, nobody would be interested in me or Lee or my sister but when you bring in the status of Sir Rod Stewart, that’s the hook and thank goodness he’s very supportive.”
Covering patient costs
Back in January, Sir Rod appeared on Sky News to express his surprise at finding his private medical clinic was empty when he went for his annual scan - and offered to pay for NHS patients to attend the facility.
Surprising Sky News host Sarah-Jane Mee at the time, the music star phoned into her show and said: "I have been watching the programme all day and yes, I went for my yearly scan which is private, obviously, and I was 20 minutes late.
“I phoned in and I said, 'I'm terribly sorry I will be there. I will be half an hour late.' I get there and I said, 'I'm so sorry I am late'.
"And they said, 'we're not busy at all. We have only got a couple of customers in today'.
"The point being, this is ridiculous. I would like to pay for 10 or 20 scans. I don't know how we are going to work it out and hopefully, some other people will follow as it seems ridiculous that this particular scanning clinic was empty and there are people dying because they cannot get scans.
"Now listen to me, I don't need the publicity. I just want to do some good things and this I think is a good thing. And if other people follow me I would love it.”
Donation to cancer treatment facility
Last month, Sir Rod donated £10,000 to NHS Grampian in Aberdeenshire to help patients fighting cancer.
The money was then used to fund additional diagnostic scans for patients at the beginning of this month - giving 24 patients an earlier chance to be tested for possible cancers.
He told AberdeenLive: “It’s vital that people receive early investigations and quick diagnosis. It is an honour to be in the position to be able to help support the NHS by funding some additional scans to boost NHS Grampian’s current capacity.”
Sir Rod had his own battle with cancer and revealed back in 2019 that he had been given the all clear after beating prostate cancer - and he also battled thyroid cancer in the past too.
Supporting NHS workers
In April, Sir Rod hit out at the UK government as he joined the voice of striking NHS nurses who were asking for a pay rise - proudly backing the healthcare workers.
The Rhythm of My Heart singer explained that he thought it was “absolutely right” that nurses were downing tools while petitioning for more pay.
He continued: “I’m well on their side. I was absolutely with them, they come before anything.”
And the music star added: “In all my time living in this country, I’ve never seen it so bad. And anything I can do to help. Poor nurses, I’m on your side.”
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