Now £160m divorce tycoon splits from his gay lover
WHEN super-rich hedge fund boss Pierre Lagrange separated from his wife of 20 years, Catherine Anspach, in 2010, the split cost him a recordbreaking £160 million.
Soon, however, the 53-year-old tycoon found solace in the exotic form of Sudanese-born stylist Roubi L’Roubi, 46, with whom he bought historic Savile Row tailor Huntsman as a plaything.
Sadly, the dramatic lifestyle change does not appear to have brought lasting happiness for Belgian-born Lagrange, who has split up with the designer. Roubi has also quit his role as creative director of 166-year-old Huntsman amid rumours that he has received a huge pay-off from Lagrange, who is worth an estimated £500million.
‘The relationship has ended and
Roubi is no longer involved with Huntsman in any way,’ confirms a close friend of Lagrange.
The pal denies rumours that the settlement included a non-disclosure clause gagging Roubi from speaking about his relationship with Lagrange, who has three children with Catherine.
Sources claim Lagrange, who cofounded hedge fund GLG Partners, can now often be seen hard at work at Huntsman, which was honoured with royal warrants by Edward VII and Queen Victoria. The break-up is the talk of London’s tailors, as Lagrange was made chairman of the Savile Row Bespoke Association trade body.
Roubi spoke last year about how ‘relevant’ the couple’s ‘private life’ was to Huntsman, whose clients have included Sir Winston Churchill and the Rolling Stones.
‘Rather than just owning the brand, we have a connection,’ he explained. ‘It’s our lifestyle.’
Roubi said their ‘country’ way of life revolved around a Berkshire estate where they hosted ‘shooting dinners and weekend parties’ where guests dressed with ‘outlandish eccentricity’ in ‘velvet smoking jackets of absolutely absurd colours’, ‘bright shooting stockings’ and ‘smoking shoes’.
Perhaps Lagrange’s pals won’t be surprised by the latest twist in his life, as he has observed that investment banking and Savile Row are not so different, both attracting ‘a lot of prima donnas’.