Former Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone's wife, Fabiana Flosi, is reported to have acquired a £35 million mansion in Portugal, boasting stunning views over the Atlantic Ocean. The respected Portuguese daily Correio da Manha has described the transaction as the 'largest private sale ever of a home' in the country.
Details of the Property
The property is located in the exclusive resort area of Quinta da Marinha in Cascais, approximately 15 miles west of Lisbon. The sale is believed to have been finalized three months ago following six months of negotiations. The previous owner was Portuguese entrepreneur Marco Galinha, founder of business group Grupo BEL. The mansion features a large pool, a tennis court, and an internal lift.
Ecclestone and Flosi's Background
Ecclestone, 95, married Brazilian marketing director Fabiana Flosi, 46, in August 2012 at his chalet in Gstaad, Switzerland. The couple has a five-year-old son named Ace. In a recent interview with German newspaper Bild, Fabiana discussed their parenting approach, noting that they raise Ace as a team, with Ecclestone explaining rules calmly. She also mentioned limiting screen time to Tuesdays and considering a mobile phone for Ace at age 12 or 14.
Potential Neighbors
Potential neighbors in Cascais include Portugal captain and former Real Madrid and Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo, who owns a £30 million mansion in the same area within the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park.
Ecclestone's Recent Sales
Last October, Ecclestone put two of his yachts up for sale, including the superyacht 'Petara', named after his children Petra and Tamara. He confirmed the sale to Bild, stating they used it only eight days a year. The yacht was previously valued at £17 million with annual running costs of £1.7 million. Earlier in the year, Ecclestone sold his collection of 69 super cars to Red Bull co-owner Mark Mateschitz for an undisclosed sum, estimated at £500 million.
Tax Case and Financial Background
In 2023, Ecclestone admitted misleading authorities about overseas assets and paid £750 million in back taxes, receiving a 17-month suspended sentence. The court heard he hid £416 million from HMRC by concealing a trust in Singapore. Ecclestone's lawyer argued he was unaware of the true position of his affairs.
Ecclestone's Rise to Wealth
Ecclestone left school at 16 and entered Formula 1 in 1972 by buying the Brabham team for £100,000. He acquired the sport's global TV rights and sold them in over 100 countries. By the early 1990s, F1 was valued at £2.5 billion, and Ecclestone earned an estimated £1 million weekly. The sport was eventually sold to Liberty Media for £6.4 billion.
Personal Life
Ecclestone has been married three times: to Ivy Bamford in 1952, to Croatian model Slavica Radić in 1985 (divorced 2009), and to Fabiana Flosi in 2012. He has four children, including Tamara and Petra from his second marriage. His divorce from Slavica reportedly cost him £60 million per year.
