The estranged wife of a former Dundee businessman today launched a multi-million-pound cash fight in the High Court.
Michelle Young, 49, estimated that her husband Scot Young, 51, was worth “a few billion at least” and told a judge in London that she would settle for “£300 million” plus legal expenses.
Mr Young, a property developer son of ex-Dundee United player Duncan Young, has yet to give evidence but has previously told judges that he is “penniless and bankrupt”, a victim of “financial meltdown” and “hopelessly insolvent”.
The trial is in the Family Division of the High Court.
Judges have heard that the Youngs, who live in London and have two daughters, separated in 2006 after starting a relationship in 1989.
They have been fighting over money for several years.
In January, Mr Justice Moor imposed a six-month prison term on Mr Young after concluding that he had failed to provide financial information to his wife and was in contempt of court.
The judge said Mr Young’s failures to obey court orders had been “flagrant and deliberate”.
He is due to make a decision about how much Mr Young is worth after hearing evidence over the next few weeks.
The trial is being staged in private but Mr Justice Moor has given permission for it to be reported.
Mrs Young was today asked by a lawyer how much she would “settle” for.
She replied “£300 million plus all my legal expenses” and added: “I think he is worth a few billion at least.”
Mrs Young said the judge had to be “realistic” about the “deals” Mr Young had been involved in.
She said in 2002 a bank statement mentioned a figure of “£300 million” and in 2006 a “schedule of assets” contained a figure of “£400 million”.
And she told the judge: “My husband has never produced a shred of real evidence about where one asset has gone to.”
Mrs Young told of her “lifestyle” when she was living with Mr Young.
“We had vast estates. We had staff,” she said. “We had a very luxury lifestyle.”
The trial continues.