I don't see what difference that makes to the fact they are now...

I don't see what difference that makes to the fact they are now worth much less than before. Do you think he and his wife are happy to see their value drop so far just because he has likely received more in directors fees from the project than it cost him to start the venture in the beginning? The directors fees are peanuts compared to the millions they've seen ripped from the value of their holdings. Holdings which are in fact valueless if he can't find a buyer for them. The big money was in raising the value of the shares and making them marketable to buyers. It's also less likely he will sit in more boards in the future after this debacle in my opinion