The Sultan of Brunei, one of the
world's richest men, is vying for late three-time ex premier and
media mogul Silvio Berlusconi's famously luxurious villa in
Sardinia, which has been put up for sale at an asking price of
300-500 million euros.
Villa Certosa, a huge estate with gardens measuring 80 tennis
courts, access to the sea, and an amphitheatre, was placed on
the market by Berlusconi's heirs earlier this year.
The 77-year-old sultan, whose net worth has been put at around
30 billion dollars, is reportedly keen to get his hands on a
residence that has at one time or other hosted some of the
world's most powerful men from ex US president George W.Bush to
former British prime minister Tony Blair and Russian President
Vladimir Putin.
The ruler of the Borneo island, whose name is Hassanal Bolkiah,
boasts a patrimony of cars alone worth some five billion euros
including 452 Ferraris, 500 Rolls Royces and dozens of unique
vehicles.
Bolkiah is reportedly facing competition from other Arab and
American billionaires as well as hotel groups hoping to turn the
villa into a luxury resort.
But the sultan has reportedly set his heart on the late
flamboyant statesman's costliest residence, according to reports
which say he may gift it to one of his 10 children, 32-year-old
Abdul Mateen, who recently got married in a 10-day ceremony on a
cruise ship that circled he Mediterranean and also stopped on
Sardinia.
Bolkiah is rumoured to have recently toured the fairy-tale
property.
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