He was one of Britain’s most reckless entrepreneurs, dealing in everything from flour and steel to casinos and cement as he found time to build golf courses and five-star luxury clubs around the world.
He even acquired at least one airport, a stake in Millwall Football Club and led a challenge for the America’s Cup.
Now, five months after Peter de Savary succumbed to a heart attack at age 78, proof comes that even death couldn’t quite stop the cycling trade that defined his career.
For I can reveal that PDS, as the thrice-married de Savary liked to be called, left behind a fortune of £60 million – but the identities of his beneficiaries remain shrouded in mystery.
Probate office documents show that an “ad colligenda bona” grant was made to the administrator of the Savary’s estate.
Now, five months after Peter de Savary (pictured) succumbed to a heart attack at age 78, proof comes that even death couldn’t quite stop the cycling trade that defined his career
This allowed two of PDS’ more modest properties – both six-bedroom houses in Devon – to be put up for sale, one for £3.5m and the other for £1.9m, along with three of his boats, the unusual name Eagle. plus the more conventional Marksman and Fizz II.
Only when those sales are complete will PDS’ last wishes be known, with the publication of his will.
Born on a pig farm in Essex and later expelled from the public school, Charterhouse, after being found in bed with his housemaster’s Swedish au pair, he was unbound by convention.
He repeatedly spoke publicly of his aversion to burdening his five daughters – two from his first marriage and three from his third – with inherited wealth.
“Huge amounts of money that take away the need to think or work for yourself are fundamentally unhealthy,” said PDS, who lost his first fortune – at least £50 million – in the 1990s recession, only to recover it in the next decades to recover.
“I inherited nothing, I gained nothing. I created everything out of nothing and I will not give my children the great job of trying to maintain or increase my efforts.”
Big surprise for Olivia
Filming Great Expectations clearly didn’t match Olivia Colman’s expectations of what she thought she was about to play.
The Oscar winner, who plays opium addict Miss Havisham in the controversial BBC adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic, suggests the show’s seedy scenes took her by surprise.
“It was much darker than I remember at school,” says Colman, 49, of the six-part show on BBC One on Sunday night, complete with vulgar language and unnecessary nudity not clearly featured in the book.
“Lots of bottom slapping moments I can’t remember from the original Dickens.” No me neither.
Pixie Geldof on the run
Did Pixie Geldof channel some of the legendary fundraising opportunities father Sir Bob, co-founder of Band Aid, into collecting donations for her charity run?
The 32-year-old completed the London Landmarks Half Marathon and said she raised nearly £1,500 for Diabetes UK. “Honestly, I can’t believe I did it!” she exclaims excitedly after completing the 21-mile course and finishing at Big Ben.
English fashion designer Henry Holland and former radio DJ Nick Grimshaw were two of her celebrity friends to donate, though her father’s name was nowhere on the list.
Has Pixie Geldof (pictured) channeled some of her Band Aid co-founder father Sir Bob’s legendary fundraising prowess to bring in donations for her charity drive?
Helena Bonham Carter may have portrayed the gin-loving Princess Margaret in The Crown, but it seems like the actress is more of a Tequila slammer of sorts in real life.
MasterChef winner and Mexican restaurant chain owner Thomasina Miers, who triumphed on the show in 2005, says Helena, 56, stopped by for dinner but ultimately showed great appreciation for the alcohol on offer.
“She told me my chocolate ice cream was really good,” the 47-year-old tells me at an event in London. “And the tequila, of course.”
Gym clears it up for Natalie
Sky Sports presenter Natalie Pinkham is used to working on the track during Formula 1 races and now she has one at home too.
Her husband, businessman Owain Walbyoff, has built a personal training circuit at their home in Kew, west London, where the couple (left) live with their two children.
“Gyms are so boring and it’s hard for me to work out alone,” Pinkham, 45, tells me at a party in London.
“Owain is the best PT, and we have a small gym in the yard and we get the kids involved.” Each their own.
Sky Sports presenter Natalie Pinkham (left) is used to working on the track during Formula 1 races and now she has one at home too
One person who felt particularly gloomy (or should that be sacre bleu?) about the King’s canceled state visit to France was Vineyard owner Florence Cathiard.
The former Olympic skier (pictured) was scheduled to host the King and Queen’s consort Camilla at her Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, near Bordeaux, before the trip was postponed due to violent protests over pension reforms.
So, how does Florence, 76, know Charles? “I met him twenty years ago at a polo match,” she says.
“They served my wine, which he then told me he liked. I told him I loved his Duchy Originals.’
One person who felt particularly gloomy (or should that be sacre bleu?) about the King’s canceled state visit to France was Vineyard owner Florence Cathiard (pictured)
Fergie, the model mom
Could Sarah, Duchess of York’s next book be a guide to parenting, I wonder?
The Duchess of York modestly claims that Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice have developed into such fine, upstanding members of society because she and Prince Andrew have raised them so well.
Speaking of Beatrice, who has year-old Sienna with husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, and Eugenie, who shares two-year-old son August with husband Jack Brooksbank — with another child on the way — Sarah, 63, says: Is it such a blessing for me to to see my daughters become such wonderful mothers.
“It confirms to me that Andrew and I raised them well.”
After the troubles of recent years, that will at least be a comfort to the Duke of York.