A billionaire from the US has been mandated to sell his £36 million mansion in west London and give the proceeds to his former wife, following a judge’s criticism of his attempts to evade a divorce settlement.
Michael Fuchs, a real estate mogul aged 65, and his wife, ex-French journalist Alvina Collardeau-Fuchs, parted ways in March 2020. This brought about a contentious legal battle over their substantial wealth after she ended their eight-year union.
Alvina initiated divorce proceedings with her husband in December 2020, and by 2022, a London judge determined that Ms. Collardeau-Fuchs was deservedly entitled to over £28 million in financial settlements and assets. This was after a legal struggle during which Fuchs incurred £8 million in fees.
Subsequently, the High Court was informed that Mr. Fuchs, who was previously a co-owner of New York’s renowned Chrysler Building, had defaulted on paying the amounts due to his ex-wife. He was accused of attempting to ‘frustrate or impede enforcement’ of the divorce decree and employing a ‘sham’ tenancy agreement to conceal his assets.
Recently, Mr. Justice Poole decreed that the couple’s luxurious former family residence, where Ms. Collardeau-Fuchs continues to reside with their two children, must be sold, and the proceeds directed to her.
The judge levied severe criticisms on the billionaire’s ‘evasive’ conduct, expressing ‘no confidence’ in Mr. Fuchs’ willingness to comply with future judicial orders.
‘There is an opportunity to secure some funds to (Ms Collardeau-Fuchs) now, and that opportunity should not be missed,’ the judge said, ordering the sale of the family home.
He also ruled that two other properties belonging to the couple should be sold, with the proceeds again handed to Ms Collardeau-Fuchs.
The couple (pictured in 2011) shared a £30m home together in London, while they also owned a a villa in Antibes, France, and a penthouse in Miami, Florida
An aerial view over Manhattan, New York City, including the Chrysler Building co-owned by Mr Fuchs
Mr Fuchs, who moved from Germany to the US in the 1990s, told the High Court during the legal battle that his fortune once topped $1 billion.
His ex-wife, a glamorous former journalist who worked for NBC, CBS, CNN and French Vogue, gave up her career when she began dating Mr Fuchs to be, as she said, ‘always by his side’.
The pair married in 2012 after signing a pre-nuptial agreement but their separation exposed the full extent of their billionaire lifestyle.
Court papers revealed a globe-trotting existence with fully staffed homes in The Hamptons, New York, Paris, Miami, Capri, and London.
Their six-storey west London mansion was described as an ‘exceptional amenity’, boasting five bedrooms, an indoor heated swimming pool, and a team of household staff, including chefs, two full-time nannies, and gardeners.
The divorce has also seen fierce arguments over a £24million art collection, including three Picassos.
In his latest ruling, Mr Justice Poole agreed to enforce the original divorce orders, saying Mr Fuchs had left the court with no choice.
‘I am not prepared to suspend the enforcement orders because (he) has given the court no grounds on which to accept any assurances from him that he will pay what he owes unless forced to do so,’ said the judge.
(L-R) Jason Binn, Alvina Collardeau-Fuchs and Michael Fuchs pictured at a Memorial Day party in Southampton, New York, in May 2010
Michael Fuchs and Alvina Collardeau-Fuchs pictured together in New York in 2011 – a year before their marriage
‘He has had two years to comply with the Final Order. However, he knows what his liability now is and he can approach (her) with a proposal for payment of a lump sum to resolve this hugely expensive and stressful litigation.’
Back in 2022, it emerged that the billionaire was ordered to pay his estranged wife more than £3.5million a year while the High Court battle played out.
Mr Justice Mostyn ruled that Mr Fuchs must cover around £70,000 a month in maintenance, plus £2.7million a year in staff and household costs – a total of about £3.64million annually.
At that time, the court heard the couple had enjoyed homes around the world, including a villa in Antibes, a penthouse in Miami, and the lavish £30million London townhouse where Ms Collardeau-Fuchs still lives.
Mr Fuchs, described as having an ‘extraordinarily successful career’ with a ‘very significant amount of prime Midtown Manhattan real estate’, was told to continue paying until a final settlement was agreed.
