Friday 12th March

Billionaire loses $60 million deposit

Russian billionaire, Mikhail Prokhorov, has reportedly lost his deposit of $60 million he paid to secure a house in South-East France.

Currently the chairman of Polyus Gold, Russia's largest gold producer and President of Onexim Group, Prokhorov first made a name for himself in the financial sector. He then went on to become one of Russia's leading industrialists in the precious metals sector, running Norilsk Nickel. With an estimated fortune of $9.5 billion, Prokhorov is currently the richest man in Russia and is ranked 40th richest man in the world by Forbes 2009.

The 44 year old had offered to buy Villa Leopolda in 2008 for a world record price of €390 million ($AU580 million), but reneged the offer after the global financial crisis.

Prokhorov lost the recent court hearing in France, which ruled that he was liable for the 10% deposit, worth €40 million ($AU60 million), he’d agreed to pay the current owner, Mrs Safra.  Prokhorov was also fined an additional €1.5 million ($AU2.2 million) in interest.

Mrs Safra inherited the villa from her billionaire banker husband, Edmund Safra, after he was murdered by his male nurse in Monaco in 1999.

Double Bay's Cosmopolitan Rebirth

The renowned Cosmopolitan Centre in Sydney’s Double Bay has seen a much needed rejuvenation, which results in a renewed establishment supporting its infamous name well into the future.

Back in its heyday, the Cosmopolitan Centre was the epicentre of Sydney’s known universe. It’s where the city’s rich and famous came to be seen, and where every international celebrity would stay.
 
The new seven-level ‘Stamford Cosmopolitan’ residential and retail development, including the famous Cosmopolitan Café, has been rebuilt at a cost of around $150 million and is already starting to re-establish Double Bay’s reputation as a destination of the utmost sophistication.

The 28 unique residential apartments are above street level with a landscaped garden and communal retreat on level five. Apartments in Stamford Cosmopolitan feature a blend of traditional forms and modern detail, comprising contemporary elements, and functional spaces.

Tony Barron from Double Bay real estate agency, Barron & Dowling, says purchasers to-date have come from Indonesia, Adelaide, and Melbourne. Of the ten apartments already sold, two adjoining three bedroom apartments on the top floor sold to a lucky purchaser for $5.75 million and $5.5 million.

 “We are not surprised by the breadth of enquiry for ‘Stamford Cosmopolitan’ because it is on a landmark site in Double Bay’s finest street. People also realize that these are the only apartments likely to be built in this much prized precinct for several years,” Mr Barron said.

Still remaining are two-bedroom apartments from $2.25 million and three bedroom apartments from $3.4 million.

For further information, find it on www.millionplus.com.au

Mel Gibson's Lavender Hill Farm up for grabs

Two-time Oscar winning actor Mel Gibson has recently listed his ‘Lavender Hill Farm’ that he and ex-wife, Robyn Moore, have owned for over 17 years. The actor filed for divorce from Robyn in 2009 and has since had a baby girl, named Lucia, with his live-in singer girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva. Oksana also has a son to actor Timothy Dalton.

Located in Malibu’s gated ‘Serra Retreat’ community, the long-time family compound has an asking price of $US14.5 million ($AU16 million).

The six bedroom Spanish style house features a private second floor master suite with a separate sitting room, two walk-in wardrobes, and ensuite. It also includes six bathrooms, formal living and dining rooms, enormous chefs kitchen with breakfast room, family room, library, media/music room, office, gym, sun room, staff quarters, three guest houses, two offices, and entertainment pavilion and state-of-the-art security systems.

The estates manicured grounds include vast expanses of green lawn, mature shade trees, fruit orchards, organic gardens, a large swimming pool and spa, shaded terraces, tennis court, and an over-sized chessboard in the lawn.

Majestic Moroccan Masterpiece

Originally owned and constructed by the De Jong family in 1996, this house in Lennox Head, named ‘Moroc’ has been a labour of love for its owners since it’s conception.

Henk De Jong turned his talents as a builder to hand making furniture, decorative steelwork screens, windows, and doorframes for the house.  His wife, Nerida De Jong, was an acclaimed artist and decorated the house with several of her paintings, of which the main one remains in place, while their son, Ivan, was responsible for the stunning landscaped gardens the property offers.

The house was a finalist in ‘Home Beautiful’ magazine for house of the year awards in the early 2000’s and from this became a regular feature on television with coverage on Channel Nine’s ‘Location Location’ and the Lifestyle network, where it is still occasionally featured.

In 2004, the property was sold to current owners, London/Dubai developer, Ian Traill, and his wife Fiona. The couple have further enhanced the property by updating appliances, installing state-of-the-art media equipment and fitting the house out with stunning furniture and further artwork, which are being sold separate to the house.

Ian and Fiona are currently finalising a development proposal for a multi residential unit development in Melbourne and reluctantly are being forced to sell ‘Moroc’ to help make this project materialise.

For further information, find it on www.millionplus.com.au