An entrepreneur said to be worth more than £200million is ‘pleading poverty,’ according to his estranged wife’s divorce lawyers.
The High Court heard that Andy Ruhan’s fortune was so large ‘it’s impossible to quantify.’
The 55-year-old who once owned 37 Thistle Hotels and sat on the board of the Lotus Formula One team, however, has claimed to be £4.2million in debt.
Since separating in 2013, Mrs Richardson-Ruhan, 49, has remained at the family home with their two children, whilst Mr Ruhan lived on a luxury yacht named Babylon.
Mrs Richardson-Ruhan’s lawyer, Sally Harrison QC, said the court would have ‘to decide whether the husband, who on anybody’s account is a phenomenally successfully entrepreneur, has fallen so spectacularly from grace that now he has nothing’.
Miss Harrison added, ‘There are in this case very clear and obvious themes that emerge. That is particularly the husband’s dishonesty, the way in which he partially discloses matters and often gives an incomplete history of his financial dealings.’
Judge, Mr Justice Mostyn, said the dispute over Mr Ruhan’s wealth was ‘so enormous… it dominates the entire disposition.
The case continues.
