London, Feb 1(ANI): Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s fortune is set to treble to 45 million pounds next year, as he returns to his lucrative career after appearing at the Iraq war inquiry.

Blair and wife Cherie are building up a property empire and now plan to maximise their earnings over the next two years.

His earnings this year alone could hit 15 million pounds, on top of the estimated 15 million pounds he made since standing aside as Prime Minister in 2007.

He also stands to earn 15 million pounds next year through speeches and expanding property empire would take his estimated family fortune to 45 million pounds.

“Tony spent weeks preparing for his ­appearance at the Iraq inquiry, often getting up at 6am to start work. Now that is out of the way, he wants to focus on his unpaid job as Middle East peace envoy and earning serious money in his other roles before he retires,” The Mirror quoted a friend of Blair, as saying.

“Many of Tony and Cherie’s friends now are extremely wealthy and they both enjoy moving in those sort of social circles. But that takes serious cash,” the friend added.

The Blairs have six luxury homes worth more than 14 million pounds - the latest was bought for 1.13 million pounds in September 2009.

Their main home is a 4.5 million pound mansion near Hyde Park in London, and they extended that property by buying an 800,000 pounds mews house behind it.

The Blairs’ country home is a Grade I listed pile worth an estimated six million pounds.The former Prime Minister also has a number of highly paid jobs, which bring in between five million pounds and nine million pounds a year.

His latest money-spinning contract - a role with hedge fund firm Lansdowne ­Partners - is expected to earn him 250,000 pounds for just four speeches. (ANI)