US property tycoon's £36m family home must be sold in bitter divorce battle, High Court judge rules

A US billionaire’s £36 million former family home in west London must sold with the profits handed to his wife in their bitter divorce saga, a judge has ruled.

Real estate tycoon Michael Fuchs, 65, split from his wife, former French journalist Alvina Collardeau-Fuchs, in March 2020, ending an eight-year marriage and triggering a mega legal battle over their shared fortune.

In 2022, after burning through at least £8 million in legal fees, a judge in London ruled that Ms Collardeau-Fuchs was entitled to more than £28 million in money and assets.

But earlier this year, the High Court heard Mr Fuchs had failed to pay millions to his ex-wife, tried to “frustrate or impede enforcement” of the divorce order, and used a “sham” tenancy agreement to try to evade his financial responsibilities.

Now, Mr Justice Poole has ruled that the couple’s opulent former family home, where Ms Collardeau-Fuchs still lives with their two children, should be sold and the profits handed straight to her.

The judge made heavy criticisms of Mr Fuchs’ evasive approach to legal proceedings, and said he has “no confidence” that he would abide by future court orders.

“There is an opportunity to secure some funds to (Ms Collardeau-Fuchs) now, and that opportunity should not be missed”, he said, in making the orders on the family home sale.

The judge also ruled that two other properties should be sold, with the profits handed over to the wife.

Mr Fuchs, who moved from Germany to the US during the 1990s, was once the owner of New York’s iconic Chrysler, and told the High Court during the legal battle that his fortune topped $1 billion.

Michael Fuchs owned the Chrysler Building in New York City (Brownstock/Alamy/PA)

Ms Collardeau-Fuchs, who has worked for the likes of NBC, CBS, CNN and French Vogue, gave up work when she started dating Mr Fuchs, to be “always by his side”.

The couple agreed to a pre-nuptial agreement prior to their marriage in 2012.

The legal battle in London has aired details of their “billionaire lifestyle”, with an eye-catching portfolio of fully-staffed homes in The Hamptons in the US, New York, Paris, Miami, Capri, and London.

The family home in west London was described as an “exceptional amenity”, boasting six stories, five bedrooms, and an indoor heated pool in its basement.

The family enjoyed in-house chefs, two full-time nannies, and a team of staff to tend to the home and gardens.

Part of the divorce proceedings involved an argument over control of a £24 million art collection, including three Picassos.

The divorce battle has played out at the Royal Courts of Justice in London (PA)

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In his recent judgment, Mr Justice Poole agreed to Mrs Collardeau-Fuchs’ requests for enforcement measures, to make her former husband fulfil his legal and financial obligations.

“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”, ruled the judge.

“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.”