Why was Mikhail Kroupeev ordered to pay over £100 million?

Mikhail Kroupeev was ordered to pay his ex-wife over £100 million in assets and cash due to the revelation of his secret double life, which included a second family in Russia.

What assets did Elena Kroupeeva receive in the divorce settlement?

Elena Kroupeeva received three properties, including their former London home, and £60 million in cash, totaling approximately £100.6 million.

What was the judge's view on Mikhail Kroupeev's conduct?

The judge was critical of Mikhail Kroupeev's conduct, describing his evidence as unsatisfactory and lacking credibility, and noting his ongoing breaches of court orders.

Home / Crime and Justice / UK court: Double life businessman owes ex-wife £100m

UK court: Double life businessman owes ex-wife £100m

25 Apr

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Summary

Businessman ordered to pay over £100 million to ex-wife.
Court heard of businessman's secret second family.
Judge criticized businessman's conduct and evidence.

A UK court has ordered Russian businessman Mikhail Kroupeev to pay his ex-wife, Elena Kroupeeva, over £100 million in assets and cash. This decision follows the revelation of Kroupeev's secret double life, which included a second wife and child in Russia. The couple, married in 1988, moved to the UK in 1993, and their divorce proceedings began in 2024.

The court awarded Elena Kroupeeva three properties, including their former London home valued at £14.4 million, and £60 million in cash. Kroupeeva's legal team had sought these assets, alongside homes in Russia and Portugal valued at £26 million, and £32.1 million in cash. Kroupeev, who represented himself, argued for a significantly smaller settlement.

Deputy High Court Judge James Ewins KC was critical of Kroupeev's conduct, citing his "ongoing breach of various court orders" and calling his evidence "profoundly unsatisfactory and lacking credibility." Kroupeev had previously faced a suspended sentence for contempt of court. The judge determined the £100.6 million settlement was affordable for Kroupeev, representing a small portion of his wealth, which includes significant oil and gas businesses.