This is CRAZINESS! A filthy rich French heiress is giving ONE BILLION dollars to her “friend,” a man 25 years younger than her. Her daughter is trying to sue to stop her from doing it! It’s like Anna Nicole in reverse!
Liliane Bettencourt, the billionaire heiress to the L’Oreal cosmetics empire, lashed out Sunday at her daughter for questioning her right to donate a billion dollars in gifts to a society photographer.
Francoise Bettencourt-Meyers claims that her 86-year-old mother, France’s richest woman, was charmed by an unscrupulous dandy 25 years her junior into parting with close to a billion dollars in artworks, gifts and life insurance.
She has filed suit against Francois-Marie Banier, 61, Latin Quarter artist, jet-set photographer and long-standing friend of the Bettencourts, suggesting her mother’s faculties must be impaired for her to part with such a vast sum.
According to letters published by Le Monde newspaper, Bettencourt — who insists she is a “free woman” in full grip of her senses — responded with a threat to slash her child’s share of a fortune estimated by Forbes magazine at 23 billion dollars.
But in an interview with the Journal du Dimanche, Bettencourt insisted she had done nothing to fritter away her capital, and that her daughter would inherit the family’s full 30-percent stake in L’Oreal. “She will get everything when I die,” she said, asking “What on earth has got into her? … What I gave to Francois-Marie Banier, although it is a large sum, is really not that much when put in proportion,” she said, without confirming the value of the gifts.
Bettencourt accused her 55-year-old daughter — with whom she has no contact — of acting out of “meanness” or to “settle old scores”.
“Jealousy could be part of it,” she said, suggesting her “introverted” daughter suffered in contrast with Banier, a flamboyant figure whose intimates have ranged from Salvador Dali to the Hollywood star Johnny Depp.
Mother and daughter long worked hand in hand to manage the family’s stake in L’Oreal, and retain control of the group whose second-biggest shareholder is the Swiss giant Nestle.
But Bettancourt said their personal relationship was over.
“I don’t see her any more and I don’t want to,” she said.
WOW.
Money definitely can’t buy happiness, folks.
NESTLE is the 2nd biggest shareholder in L’oreal?!
And let the old lady give away a billion dollars… though it’d be better if it was to charity.
This woman is A-B-S-O-L-U-T-E-L-Y crazy. You can’t just GIVE away a billion dollars! And calling your own flesh and blood an introvert? How mean! Liliane Bettencourt is foolish to assume that giving away that much money to some money stealing jerk-off is “not really in proportion to their own fortune.” Once again, there are just some people out there that have NO COMMON SENSE.
P.S. If she is willing to give a billion to some guy she has the hots for, can you imagine the sum she could give to charity? Where is your heart Liliane?!?
I agree – with the poverty in the world, not to mention the recession hitting ‘ordinary folks’ – ‘dandies’ should be a luxury item, not a necvessity!
seriously! who accuses their kid of being jealous of their sex life! bloody nutball of a woman.
Money may not buy happiness, but, ask any rich person if they would rather be poor.
Living proof that L’Oreal cosmetics do not keep you from aging. It is her money and she should be able to give it to whoever she wants. Case closed.
Why do you not post my comments? Is my opinion not as good as everyone elses or do you only post the comments you agree with?
My apologies. Please accept.
well…….. at least she still plans on leaving her daughter the money…
To the dandy: I billion in life-insurances, a great number of valuable paintings by very famous masters, many properties and loads of cash. The dandy, who according to employees witness statements, seems to be manipulating her, especially when she is weak and not feeling well. It is him putting out the rumours of adoption… It seems a premeditated ‘job’ as dandy-boy has made sure that others gave written statements of how nice her was with her… However, to her charitable foundation she has given 180 million. No further comments necessary.
Yes, she is free to do as she likes, but she could well be duped and it’s a daughter’s responsibility to make sure her mum is not being exploited, manipulated, used and mistreated as François-Marie seems to go into a rage when he does not get what he wants (again from witnesses), eg 12 million to do up his house.
and I bet that “younger guy” is soooooooooooo happy!
it’s her money to be as silly with as she wishes, she doesn’t have to leave her daughter anything nor should she feel oblidged to really. Children should make it on their own, even the oedious Paris Hilton seems to be making her own dollars these days with her horrible perfumes etc. I wonder if Loreal make those for her? Anyhoo, she should have a lover if it makes her smile! i’m on the side of the crazy old frog!
i want that money!