Former Pirelli supermodel awarded £53million in divorce from Saudi prince faces wait for the cash after he suddenly dies
A FORMER supermodel who won a £53million award in a High Court divorce battle with her Saudi billionaire ex-husband has yet to receive a penny of the settlement.
Sheikh Walid Juffali, 61, was ordered to pay Christina Estrada the lump sum - the largest "needs" pay-out ever made by an English court - by 4pm on Friday July 29.
However, Dr Juffali died in a Zurich clinic from cancer a week before payment was due.
Estrada’s solicitors returned to the High Court on Tuesday to inform Justice Roberts - who had earlier said she awarded the lump sum to reflect the "exorbitant standard of living" and "magical" lifestyle enjoyed by their client - that the money had not been received.
Charles Howard, representing Estrada, raised with the judge the prospect of enforcement action against
Dr Juffali's family to ensure the lump sum was paid.
But Justice Roberts said there was no need to issue an enforcement order at this stage, as she was confident that Dr Juffali’s estate would eventually pay up.
She said: “I continue to stress that Dr Juffali engaged with this process though out his life time and following his death, the legal representative likely to be instructed for his estate has also engaged to the extent they have sent the court an extremely courteous letter. I hope we will get this sorted out without the need for further litigation."
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Speaking outside court Frances Hughes of Hughes Fowler Carruthers, who represent Estrada, said: "This is a difficult time for the whole family and Christina Estrada is grateful for the continual support of Walid Juffali's extended family.
"Mrs Justice Roberts said she hoped and expected that this would be quickly resolved and we concur with this view."
At the settlement hearing last month, as well as the £53million, Estrada was given a Mini Clubman, a Lamborghini or an sum to equivalent value and £160,000 for a top of the range Range Rover.
The judge also ruled a blue diamond ring, worth £4million, should be given back to Estrada by her ex-husband.
Estrada was awarded a housing fund of £18 million to pay for a new home once she moves out of the couple's family home Bishopsgate House, near Windsor.