Mystery Russian billionaire - Odds on being a Zionint Jew??

[Ognir]

Record 500m euros for Riviera pad

If you are looking for a holiday home on the French Riviera, the stock of available properties just got smaller.

With grounds so grand that it takes a reputed 50 gardeners to tend them, the Villa Leopolda in Villefranche-sur-Mer has been snapped up by a mystery Russian billionaire.

Built by King Leopold II of Belgium in 1902, the sumptuous villa has been graced by world leaders and superstars.

The previous owner, the late banking billionaire Edmond Safra, is said to have entertained Ronald Reagan and Frank Sinatra there.

With the credit crisis causing turmoil in the world's financial community, and property values falling generally, you would expect the price to have tempered a little.
   The increase in the mega high net worth individuals globally is on a march
Jonathan Hewlett, Savills estate agents

But no, the mysterious buyer is expected to hand over a whopping 500 million euros ($736m:£397m) for this luxury home on the Côte d'Azur.

Hotspots

It is all down to a shortage of supply and rising demand from rich business people, according to luxury estate agent Jonathan Hewlett, who has recently sold a London pad for more than £100m.

"The increase in the mega high net worth individuals globally is on a march," the Savills director told BBC News.

"And they are very specific about where they want to live."

Central London and the French Riviera are the current hotpots for Russian buyers, according to Mr Hewlett.

With the recent surge in commodity prices, there are still people in the market looking to purchase a very exclusive address, he added.

The Villa Leopolda price-tag smashed the previous record of £117m ($217m), which Britain's richest man Lakshmi Mittal reportedly paid this year for a home on London's so-called Billionaires Boulevard close to Kensington Palace.

But even the latest record may not last long. Asia's richest man, industrialist Mukesh Ambani is expected to move into the 27-story property he has built to house his family and offices in Mumbai next year.

With a value reported to be up to $2bn, the design was said to have be inspired by the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/b ... 563123.stm

Published: 2008/08/15 13:28:48 GMT

[sullivan]

From what I can gather, the purchaser is Roman Abramovich.  The former owner was Gianni Agnelli (Fiat)

[razorback2000]

As we talk about Russian billionaire, here's a big one.
Below an article where his agent denies he's about to buy the most expensive mansion in the world at St Jean Cap Ferrat, in the French Riviera

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/georgia/2584033/Russian-tycoon-Mikhail-Prokhorov-denies-buying-worlds-costliest-villa.html

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/10/JW8Z.html