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F1 chief Ecclestone 'facing £2.4bn divorce battle with wife Slavica'
Kiran Randhawa14.11.08
FORMULA One boss Bernie Ecclestone has split from his wife Slavica, it was claimed today.
The 78-year-old tycoon's marriage is said to be heading for the divorce courts after she moved out of the family home in Kensington.
The 6ft 2in former model, who towers over the billionaire, is alleged to have packed her bags while Mr Ecclestone was in Brazil watching Lewis Hamilton's Grand Prix victory.
According to friends in Switzerland, where the couple have a second home, Mrs Ecclestone, 50, has already consulted divorce lawyers.
Should the break-up be final, it could be the latest in a string of acrimonious splits as 5ft 4in Mr Ecclestone has put the bulk of his fortune in her name. The couple are said to be worth £2.4billion.
A huge proportion of this, £1.9billion from a bond issue in 1999, was put in off-shore trusts controlled by Mrs Ecclestone, who is non-domiciled. They have two daughters Tamara, 24, and Petra, 19, who have moved out of the £10million family home.
Despite their wealth, the Ecclestones, who have been married for 24 years, live relatively low-key lives. They met at the 1982 Italian Grand Prix, where Mrs Ecclestone was modelling, and married two years later.
A source said: "Bernie is totally focused on his work. You don't pull yourself up from nowhere to become one of the richest men in the land by being a pussycat."
At her new flat overlooking the Thames, Mrs Ecclestone refused to comment.
Mr Ecclestone admitted she had moved out but blamed it on the noise from building work in the house next door. He refused to say whether or not they were divorcing.
Reader views (5)
Bernie Ecclestone - an ex-landlord with a dubious past that made Rachman look saintly.
Max Mosley - son of fascist leader Oswald and into sadomasachism with prostitutes
Charlie Whiting (F1 race director) & brother of Nick who was shot dead for involvement in brinks mat
Alan Donnelly (F1's chief stewart) owns Sovereign Strategy which does work for Ferrari and at the same time penalized McLaren/Hamilton for overtaking
all these = F1 hierarchy
There's something rotten in the state of Denmark...
- Jessica, London
Are you kidding? F1 is a monopoly, that's how
- Lmd, London
Quite agree with Dhanraj. There's something creepy about these strange old men. And how does someone accumulate that amount of money out of a sport?
- Anon2, Aberdeen UK
He is only getting what he deserves! Dubious friends and a poor attitude do not help!
- Paul Davies, Portsmouth, UK
There is something unsavoury about F1, Ecclestone and Moseley. F1 needs a complete overhaul.
- Dhanraj, Basildon Essex
