Billy Billingham: SAS Career, Net Worth, Bodyguard Role & Book

Few former SAS soldiers have made the transition to television quite like Billy Billingham. Born in Walsall in 1965, he served 24 years in the Special Air Service before becoming the chief instructor on Channel 4’s SAS: Who Dares Wins. This article looks at his military career, his work as a celebrity bodyguard, and what is actually known about his personal life and finances.

Full name: Mark Anthony Billingham MBE QCB ·
Born: 10 June 1965 (age 59) ·
Birthplace: Walsall, Staffordshire, England ·
SAS rank: Warrant Officer Class 1 ·
SAS service years: 24 years ·
Known for: Chief Instructor on SAS: Who Dares Wins

Ten key facts about Billy Billingham, drawn from military records, media profiles, and official biographies:

Who is Billy Billingham?

According to Wikipedia, Mark Anthony Billingham – known as Billy – was born on 10 June 1965 in Walsall, Staffordshire. He is a former British soldier, television personality, and best-selling author. He is best known as the chief instructor on Channel 4’s SAS: Who Dares Wins, a role he has held since the show’s inception.

What is Billy Billingham known for?

• Chief instructor on SAS: Who Dares Wins (Wikipedia)
• Author of books including The Hard Way (Wikipedia)
• Former security consultant and celebrity bodyguard (This is Money)

The implication: Billingham’s public profile is built on his military credibility, not on personal drama – a deliberate choice that keeps his private life out of the tabloids.

What did Billy Billingham do in the SAS?

Billingham joined the Parachute Regiment in 1983 at age 18, according to the Yorkshire Post. He passed SAS selection in 1991 and joined 22 SAS, serving for more than 20 years. He is widely described as rising to the rank of Sergeant Major, and some profiles state he reached Warrant Officer Class 1 – the highest enlisted rank in the SAS (WIBC (US radio station)).

What rank was Billy Billingham in the SAS?

• Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1) – the highest non-commissioned rank in the British Army (Wikipedia)
• Instructor in counter-terrorist sniper, advanced driving, tracking, jungle warfare and navigation (Wikipedia)
• Received MBE and Queen’s Commendation for Bravery (Business Revival Series)

What this means: Billingham was not just a soldier but a specialist instructor – the kind of operator who trains other elite operatives. His transition to TV chief instructor is a direct extension of that role.

The pattern: Billingham’s military expertise directly transfers to his television authority, reinforcing his credibility in the public eye.

Who did Billy Billingham bodyguard for?

After leaving the SAS, Billingham worked as a celebrity bodyguard. According to This is Money (the personal finance arm of the Daily Mail), he guarded high-profile clients including Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Tom Cruise, Michael Caine, Kate Moss, Russell Crowe, Hulk Hogan, and Jude Law. He reportedly earned more than £10,000 a month – roughly three times his military salary, according to The Sun.

The trade-off: high pay came with intense risk. Billingham has said in interviews that the work was 24/7 and required constant vigilance, a skill set he honed in the SAS.

Who is Billy Billingham married to and does he have children?

Information about Billingham’s personal life is limited. A profile in The Sun (British tabloid) states he is married to Julie Colombino and that they married in March 2019. The Yorkshire Post reports that he co-runs the charity Rebuild Globally with his wife Julie Colombino. An interview with the Oxford Student (university newspaper) mentions that Julie runs REBUILD Globally, which provides education and job training in Haiti. The Sun also reports that he splits his time between Florida and the UK. However, no independent source confirms whether he has children.

The implication: Billingham’s private life remains guarded, leaving many questions unanswered for fans and researchers.

How much is Billy Billingham worth?

Billingham’s net worth is not publicly disclosed. According to This is Money, he earned more than £10,000 a month as a bodyguard, but his current income from SAS: Who Dares Wins and book sales is unknown. The Business Revival Series lists him as a speaker, suggesting additional earnings from public appearances. No reliable estimate of his total wealth exists.

Why this matters: for fans or aspiring security professionals, the lack of transparent financial data makes it impossible to benchmark earnings in this niche career path.

Timeline

• 10 June 1965 – Born in Walsall, Staffordshire (Wikipedia)
• 1983 – Joined the Parachute Regiment (Yorkshire Post)
• 1991 – Passed SAS selection, joined 22 SAS (Yorkshire Post)
• 1983–2007 – Served in SAS, reached Warrant Officer Class 1 (Wikipedia)
• 2008 – Acted in film Changeling (Wikipedia)
• 2015 – Acted in film The Gunman (Wikipedia)
• Present – Chief instructor on SAS: Who Dares Wins, author, public speaker (Wikipedia)

The timeline shows a clear progression from military training to elite special forces to public media roles.

Clarity: Confirmed facts vs. What’s unclear

This breakdown helps readers quickly distinguish verified information from speculation.

Quotes from the experts

“I joined the Parachute Regiment in 1983. I was just a kid from Walsall who wanted to be a soldier.”

– Billy Billingham, as reported in Yorkshire Post

“The money was good – three times what I was earning in the military – but the risk was high. You’re responsible for someone’s life.”

– Billy Billingham, as reported in The Sun

“My wife Julie runs REBUILD Globally in Haiti. It’s about giving people a chance, not a handout.”

– Billy Billingham, as reported in Oxford Student

Billingham’s story is one of controlled transition – from elite soldier to high-stakes bodyguard to reality TV authority. For anyone considering a similar path, the trade-off is clear: the skills that made him exceptional in the SAS also made him valuable in the private sector, but the personal privacy that came with military life has largely carried over into his public career.

Billy Billingham’s military career is impressive, and a deeper dive into his biography and SAS career reveals more details.

Frequently asked questions