Mark Wahlberg has amassed an impressive fortune throughout his successful career. With a staggering net worth, the multi-talented American actor, producer, and businessman has leveraged his skills and ventures to establish significant wealth. His diverse portfolio includes acting, endorsements, and business ventures, solidifying his status as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.
But the multimillionaire actor, with a net worth of over $400 million, previously acknowledged using public funds to support the employees of his London restaurant. The actor, known for his roles in movies like Patriots Day, made the decision to furlough the staff at Wahlburgers, situated in Covent Garden.
The Pandemic Wasn’t Kind On Mark Wahlberg’s Business
In May 2019, Mark Wahlberg joined forces with his brothers, chef Paul Wahlberg and actor Donnie Wahlberg, to establish the restaurant. However, due to the subsequent lockdown measures, Wahlberg utilized the government’s furlough scheme to cover the salaries of the establishment’s staff, which is estimated to employ up to 30 individuals.
“Mark’s decision to not personally bail out his staff has raised eyebrows, especially given how much he’s worth,” a source said. “A lot of the staff wondered if he’d help top up their wage packets but that hasn’t happened either.”
The staff at Wahlburgers were appreciative of receiving their salaries during challenging times, recognizing the difficult circumstances faced by many. However, comparisons arose when notable figures like Ed Sheeran generously supported their staff using personal wealth.
“Everyone is grateful they’re getting a salary as obviously this is a difficult time. But when other stars like Ed Sheeran are helping out their staff using their own wealth it looks pretty bad. There had been talk of expanding the business, with up to ten more restaurants across the rest of the UK, but that’s now all on hold.”
Wahlburgers Wanted To Avoid Permanent Closure
A representative for Wahlburgers has verified that the business is indeed utilizing the government scheme established by then-Chancellor Rishi Sunak. Addressing the impact of the pandemic on the restaurant industry, the spokesperson acknowledged the immense challenges faced by businesses, including Wahlburgers. As a franchise organization, each Wahlburgers franchise was confronted with difficult choices, such as determining whether to continue operations or temporarily suspend business indefinitely.
“The restaurant industry has been hit incredibly hard because of this pandemic. As a franchise organization, each individual Wahlburgers franchise has had to make decisions whether to keep its doors open or close indefinitely while we all navigate these challenging times together. The franchise group that owns Wahlburgers Covent Garden made the decision to use the Furlough scheme for their employees in hopes that the large team and Central London site can be retained without permanent closure.”
With the objective of preserving their substantial team and avoiding permanent closure, the franchise group responsible for Wahlburgers Covent Garden opted to utilize the Furlough scheme for their employees.
Source: The Sun
