Chrysler building owner Michael Fuchs in messy legal drama with ex

The billionaire co-owner of the Chrysler building in New York must pay out more than £3.5million ($4,763,150) every year until a judge decides how much money his estranged wife should walk away with in their divorce. 

Michael Fuchs, a German-born 62-year-old who moved to the US in the 1990s, and French former journalist Alvina Collardeau-Fuchs, 46, are fighting over money at the High Court in London.

The couple, who have two children together, married in New York in 2012 before separating two years ago.

Mr Fuchs had enjoyed an 'extraordinarily successful career' and owned a 'very significant amount of prime Midtown Manhattan real estate' before marrying Ms Collardeau-Fuchs, the court heard.

The couple shared a £30m ($40,827,000) home together in London, where Ms Collardeau-Fuchs still lives, which boasts six floors, five bedrooms and an indoor underground swimming pool.

Mr Justice Mostyn heard they also had a villa in Antibes, France, and a penthouse in Miami, Florida.

He today made rulings on how much maintenance Ms Collardeau-Fuchs should receive while the dispute continues, confirming that a final hearing is due to begin on October 10.

He ruled that Mr Fuchs should pay his former partner around £70,000 ($95,263) a month maintenance - equivalent to more than £800,000 ($1,088,720) a year.

However, Mr Fuchs said he will also cover the cost of staff and other overheads - expenses the judge says will total around £2.7m ($3,676,050) a year.

Mr Justice Mostyn said his 'overall liability' would therefore be 'an approximate annual rate of £3.64m' ($4,955,860).

Ms Collardeau-Fuchs had asked for £130,000 ($176,995) a month in maintenance, but her ex-husband offered £31,000 ($42,194), the judge said.

Mr Fuchs told the court that the couple's London property was worth £30.2 million ($41,104,616) and was subject to a mortgage of £21.5 million ($29,263,220).

Historically, a retinue of staff had been employed at the property, including two rota chefs, a house manager, two or three housekeepers, and a laundress. 

Mr Justice Mostyn was told that, towards the end of their relationship, they had 'global annual living costs' of around £900,000 ($1,224,972).

He described the overheads as 'enormous'.

The judge said the divorcing couple had already spent more than £900,000 on lawyers between them - Mr Fuchs more than £450,000 ($612,486) and Ms Collardeau-Fuchs more than £460,000 ($626,101).

He earlier ruled, at a recent preliminary hearing, that they could be named in media reports.