Bernie Ecclestone's wife makes feelings clear as F1 supremo cashes in on yachts
Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone turned 95 on Tuesday, and has recently sold a large yacht of his in Croatia, with another, smaller one, up for sale in Ibiza
Bernie Ecclestone sold a yacht named after his daughters, Petra and Tamara, last week after his wife Fabiana claimed they only used it for eight days a year. Another smaller yacht of the Formula 1 supremo's, moored in Ibiza, as opposed to "Petara", which is in Croatia, is also up for sale.
"We just sold it," Ecclestone told BILD during an interview marking his 95th birthday, which is today, Tuesday, 28 October. Fabiana explained, "We only used it for eight days a year. We don't need such a big yacht for that."
Ecclestone also sold off his collection of F1 cars earlier this year to Red Bull co-owner Mark Mateschitz for around £550million. That sale occurred 18 months after paying over £500 million to HMRC in a civil settlement, following a failure to declare overseas assets worth £400 million.
However, he and his family still have a net worth, according to Forbes, of over £1.8 billion. Along with his third wife, Fabiana, 49, and their five-year-old son, Ace, Ecclestone resides in the resort town of Gstaad, in the Swiss Alps.
He said of his birthday, "My daughters wanted a big party. I'd rather fly with Fabi and Ace to my ranch in Brazil."
His eldest daughter, Deborah, "visited me in Gstaad before my birthday," Ecclestone said of his child with first wife Ivy Bamford. "She just turned 70."
His current wife said of their relationship: "We've been married for 13 years now, together for 16," she said, adding about their parenting of Ace: "It's working very well.
"Bernie and I are a team, and we're raising Ace as a team. When I get a little impatient, Bernie explains to him in his usual calm and quiet way that he's not allowed to watch TV for half an hour until he's done his homework."
On that subject, she added: "It's not easy for us to explain to Ace that online, tablet, and YouTube are only available on Tuesdays, while his classmates are allowed to do so every day. I think it's a good idea for him to get his first cell phone at 12 or 14."
Ecclestone explained: "Ace has accepted this and doesn't complain. He's a bright, intelligent, wonderful boy. I already see no limits to what he'll be capable of."
Fabiana added, "He was already skiing at the age of two. Many children that age don't like this or that food – Ace likes everything. His favourite is sushi."
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