Alex Salmond’s media company, Slainte Media, experienced significant financial decline prior to his death in March 2024. The company’s accounts reveal that it burned through over £200,000 in just a few months, raising questions about its financial viability and Salmond’s personal circumstances leading up to his passing.
In November 2023, Slainte Media reported having £340,441 in its bank accounts. However, by the following month, after Salmond’s death from a heart attack while attending a conference in North Macedonia, the company’s financial situation worsened dramatically. The bank balance plummeted by nearly £220,000, leaving just £121,834 available. This decline in assets is notable, as the company’s net worth was recorded at £310,674 a year earlier, indicating a drop of over £200,000 in net assets to £91,553.
The financial difficulties faced by Slainte Media are attributed in part to the loss of income from the Kremlin-backed news outlet RT, which had previously been a significant source of revenue. Salmond co-owned the company with his close associate, Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, and together they navigated the complexities of media production and public relations.
Following the allegations of sexual misconduct that surfaced in 2020, Salmond engaged in extensive legal battles to clear his name. His allies have indicated that the costs associated with these legal proceedings contributed substantially to the company’s financial strain. Salmond’s passing has left a complicated legacy, with his financial struggles now under scrutiny as more information comes to light.
As the investigation into Slainte Media’s finances unfolds, it raises important questions about the sustainability of media ventures reliant on controversial funding sources and the implications of legal troubles on personal and corporate financial health. Salmond, who was once a prominent political figure in Scotland, now faces a posthumous examination of his financial legacy, which appears to be marred by the accumulation of debt and legal costs.
The circumstances surrounding his death and the financial state of his company serve as a reminder of the challenges faced by public figures in the media landscape, particularly in navigating both financial pressures and public perception.
