Saudi

$308 Million Monaco Penthouse Purchased by Abramovich Associate? [UPDATED]

A well-connected Luxist follower has written in to inform us of the identity of the buyer of the record-shattering $308 million Monaco penthouse (above) we just reported on. The new owner of the world's most expensive apartment we're told is Greek billionaire Constantine Alexander-Goulandris, a close friend and business associate of Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich. According to Wikipedia, the American-born Alexander-Goulandris, 47, who's based in Monaco, is an influential adviser to the Saudi royal family and the emirs of Qatar and Kuwait, as well as the leaders of the UAE and many of the world's largest oil companies.

In addition to Abramovich he's also close to Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin. Though not on Forbes' list of the world's richest people, he's said to be worth an estimated $15 billion thanks to investments in petroleum and energy shipping and real estate, including the Olympic Tower building in NYC. In addition to Monaco Alexander-Goulandris reportedly maintains residences in Paris, London, Antibes, New York and Hawaii. He also owns one of the largest yachts in the world, the Dubai-registered, 279-ft. Delma, and jets around on a Boeing 767 and two Gulfstream G550s.

UPDATE: The buyer was in fact a member of Dubai's royal family; Alexander-Goulandris acted as an adviser - read more here.

Gallery: $308 Million in Monaco

Tags: apartment, Dubai, Lily Safra, Monaco, most expensive, oil, penthouse, real estate, Roman Abramovich, Saudi, UAE, Vladimir Putin, wealth, worlds most expensive

Saudi Prince Strangles Servant in London Luxury Hotel

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wealth, Crimes and Misdemeanors

It's hard to get good help these days - especially if you keep killing them. A man claiming to be a member of the Saudi royal family has been arrested on suspicion of murder after one of his servants was found strangled at a palatial London luxury hotel, the London Daily Mail reports. Police were called to the five-star Landmark Hotel in Marylebone (above) after a maid found the body of a 32-year-old Saudi Arabian man in one of the poshest suites. The victim, believed to be part of the as-yet-unnamed royal's entourage, had been strangled and suffered severe head injuries in the attack. The 33-year-old prime suspect informed authorities that he is a prince of the Saudi royal family who had apparently been living the high life at the hotel for the past month. Rooms at the Landmark, built in 1899, cost up to £2,400 per night for the presidential suite. Rocker Liam Gallagher, Justin Timberlake and Formula One champ Lewis Hamilton are among its celebrity clientele. Michelle Obama also held a fundraising event for her husband there in 2007. Officials have said the prince does not have diplomatic immunity; the Saudi embassy has refused to comment.