He once vowed to “live poor and die rich” — and 60-year-old Sean Quinn practises what he preaches, judging by the tales of his modest way of life.

One Co Down woman related a story about sitting beside a chatty Co Fermanagh man while flying to Spain with Ryanair. Only when they reached the destination did she realise he was Sean Quinn, the

His business empire, which ranges from glass to hotels and insurance, dates back to 1973, when he borrowed £300 to set up a gravel business, quarrying stone from a corner of his family farm in Derrylin, Co Fermanagh.

Grants helped Quinn build his first large cement plant at Derrylin in 1989. The group expanded into glass — sand is a by-product of quarrying — now making the glass for Gordon’s Gin, Bushmills Whiskey and other drinks.

In 1996, Quinn Insurance was set up, offering commercial and motor insurance.

Quinn’s interests grew and grew, with a well-publicised foray into private health insurance in 2007 when he bought Bupa Ireland’s customer base in a £100m deal.

Hotels are also his thing and the Quinn Group bought the prestigious Belfry hotel and country club near Birmingham for £186m in 2005. He sold the Hillgrove Hotel in Monaghan in 2004.

At home in Co Fermanagh, Quinn is well-liked and regarded as an unassuming person who enjoys a game of cards and the simple things in life.

Quinn’s fortune is worth around £3.7bn. But he has not embraced the same attitude to wealth as other business people, such as the Body Shop’s Anita Roddick, who before her death revealed she wouldn’t be leaving her huge wealth to her family. Mr Quinn is believed to have already transferred his fortune to his children.

Last year, pre-tax profits for Quinn Group were £294m and it boosted its workforce by 553. It had the highest turnover of any company in Northern Ireland.

Mr Quinn once estimated that his companies were growing by 30% a year — though he admitted growth is likely to slow down in coming years.

Whether he predicted yesterday’s events is another matter.