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Politics : Israel to U.S. : Now Deal with Syria and Iran -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: sea_urchin who wrote (14654)	3/19/2007 7:15:21 AM
From: GUSTAVE JAEGER	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 22250

Re: Unfortunately for the wealthy, wealth is generally transient -- it can be lost, stolen, gambled away or legislated away... ...or divorced away --a case study of (class) exogamy gone wrong: Abramovich protects his fortune with Russian divorce By Cahal Milmo Published: 15 March 2007 Roman Abramovich deftly avoided what could have been one of the most public and expensive divorce battles ever by using the Russian legal system to enshrine his split from his second wife, lawyers said yesterday. The Russian billionaire and owner of Chelsea FC is thought to have paid between £1bn and £2.5bn from his estimated fortune of £10.8bn in a settlement to end his 16-year marriage to Irina, a former air hostess and mother of their five children. But the late-night announcement that the uncontested divorce had been finalised in Russia rather than the Royal Courts of Justice was greeted with surprise in London, where Mrs Abramovich might have sought a larger share of her husband's sprawling assets. Although the couple have lived in London since 2000, they married in Moscow. The confirmation that the marriage had ended came hours after pictures were taken of the Russian, the world's 16th richest person, in Paris with a model and heiress, Daria Zhukova. Lawyers acting for Ms Zhukova, the daughter of another London-based Russian tycoon, said publication of pictures of the pair walking beside the Seine would be "deeply objectionable" and threatened legal action. As recently as five months ago, a spokesman for Mr Abramovich described as "incorrect and hurtful" reports that Mrs Abramovich had contacted divorce lawyers amid speculation about his friendship with Ms Zhukova, known to friends as Dasha. Representatives of the magnate insisted the divorce settlement would not force the sale of any of his assets, including Chelsea FC. Mr Abramovich, 40, has so far spent £375m on his dream of turning the west London club into Europe's leading side since he bought it in 2003. But troubles at the club have led to suggestions that he is preparing to sell up. A statement issued on his behalf said: "Mr Abramovich's corporate interests, including Chelsea Football Club, are not affected by the divorce proceedings." Both the value of the settlement and the share that Mrs Abramovich will receive of her husband's sizeable property empire remain the subject of a strict confidentiality clause. It is the fact that Mrs Abramovich, who married Roman in 1991, has been with her husband since before he became enormously rich that may have given her the leverage to demand a sizeable chunk of his fortune. The ability of wives to demand up to 50 per cent of their husband's assets during a marriage has made the High Court in London a favoured location for high-profile divorces. But legal experts said she is wise to have accepted a deal on her husband's terms. Jeremy Levison, senior partner at the divorce firm Levison Meltzer Pigott, said: "If [she] had sought a different share of the assets she might have come up against severe difficulties. What was she going to do? Demand the sale of a Russian oil company? Order that Chelsea sell [England captain] John Terry and keep the proceeds?" What's at stake in the settlement Property: Fyning Hill, £18m: 420-acre estate and house in West Sussex Belgravia, central London, £30m: five-storey town house Knightsbridge, central London, £15m: penthouse overlooking Harrods Chateau de la Croe, £15m: the former home of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor in Cap d'Antibes on the French Riviera St Tropez, £10m: seaside villa Moscow, £8m: vast estate on the outskirts of Russian capital in a compound where Soviet leaders once had their dachas Chukotka, £500,000: wooden villa in Anadyr, the state capital of the Siberian province where he has been governor since 2000 *Planes, yachts and automobiles:* Pelorus £72m: yacht measuring 115 metres in length. It has bullet-proof glass and its own submarine Grand Bleu, £60m: yacht complete with 16ft swimming platform and dock Eclipse, £200m: the reported name of Abramovich's newest vessel. Measuring 160 metres, she is being built in Germany Bandit, £56m: the name given to Abramovich's Boeing 767 Maybach 62 one of the world's most luxurious cars. Abramovich once bought "his 'n' her's" models news.independent.co.uk