For someone who prefers a low profile, Robert Smith has a knack for attracting attention.

Mr Smith, who rarely gives interviews, held his wedding in 2015 at an inaccessible Italian villa, in theory far from the gazing eye. But given that his bride Hope Dworaczyk was a former Playboy Playmate of the Year and the entertainment was provided by John Legend and Seal, photos of the ceremony made the tabloids anyway.

While many finance executives in Silicon Valley try to blend in by driving Tesla electric cars and wearing jeans to work, the employees at the San Francisco office of Mr Smith’s Vista Equity Partners opt for sports cars and three-piece suits — a reflection of the tastes of their Texas-based boss, whose vehicles include a McLaren.