THEY say money can’t buy you happiness, but the Reuben brothers don’t seem to be complaining.
The property tycoons are self-made billionaires and the second richest family in the UK, according to the Sunday Times Rich List.
David Reuben, 79, and younger sibling Simon, 76, have amassed a staggering fortune of £18.6bn thanks to a business acumen even Lord Alan Sugar would be envious of.
Over the years, they’ve splashed their wealth on a plethora of boys’ toys, including a £54million super yacht and a £19million private jet.
They even own a nightclub in the exclusive Italian island of Capri that’s seen glamorous guests like Jennifer Lopez, George Clooney and Beyonce walk through its doors.
Now, the pair are set to move into the football world.
They have joined forces with Saudi Arabia prince Mohammad bin Salman and Amanda Staveley in a £300m takeover of Newcastle United from beleaguered owner Mike Ashley.
They stand to own 10 per cent of the club, according to reports. This is their story.
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
David and Simon were born in India to Jewish-Iraqi parents, and moved to London in the 1950s.
The family grew up in poverty, and were poorly educated in a state school in Islington.
They loved their football, but didn’t support their local team Arsenal, instead opting for London rivals Chelsea.
Both left education when they were 17, David worked in scrap metal and began trading, while Simon started out in carpets, before buying England’s oldest carpet company from the receivers.
In the past, Simon has been quoted as saying: “I can’t read a computer screen and never use a calculator. It’s all in my head and by hand.”
The company made enough money for Simon to start spending on property, with early investments on Walton Street and the King’s Road in Chelsea.
Eventually, the brothers joined forces by launching Trans-World Metals – an operation that specialised in aluminium and tin out of London and copper and tin out of New York.
By 1984, the company was worth a staggering $20million, and at its peak they controlled around seven percent of the world’s aluminium output.
PROPERTY MAGNATES
The Reubens moved into Russian territory shortly after the break-up of the Soviet Union, buying half of Russia’s aluminium supply.
Remarkably, their global sales topped $8bn in 1995.
They did business with Roman Abramovich, as well as Oleg Deripaska, the oligarch pal of Nat Rothschild and Peter Mandelson.
However, their relationship with Deripaska turned sour, and eventually the Reubens took him to court claiming damages of $300m in lost earnings.
The Reubens have now focused their attentions on reshaping the London skyline. They redeveloped Paddington Basin, own Connaught House on Berkeley Square, as well as the John Lewis HQ in Victoria, Burlington Arcade, 100 Pall Mall, Clareville House, and several shops in pricey Sloane Square.
CAMBRIDGE HOUSE
In 2017, they were granted planning permission to turn a former Piccadilly private members’ club into one of London’s most astonishing five star hotels, after acquiring the property for £130million in 2011.
Originally, the site was the infamous In and Out Club that boasted past members like Lawrence of Arabia, Ian Fleming and Rudyard Kipling.
The Grade I-listed property known as Cambridge House, also formerly a home of past PM Lord Palmerston, will also house a restaurant, bars, a spa, pool and gym, and seven residential apartments when it is built.
But its most amazing feature will be its 2,360sq ft grand ballroom, double the size of the average home.
BUY LAND, BY SEA
Through their company Kristal Waters, the brothers built five super yachts.
They sold four – Triple Seven, Sapphire, Mogambo and Graffiti, but kept the £54million Siren, which is now used by the pair as a private yacht.
The 241-foot vessel has six cabins, a master suite, a VIP stateroom, three double cabins, as well as a twin cabin.
The master suite also has a fold out balcony on which guests can enjoy incredible views of the skies and the ocean.
There is space for up to 12 guests, while 18 cabin crew can wait on you hand and foot.
JET-SET LIFE
If travelling by sea doesn’t cut it for the Reubens, they have exclusive use of their own private jet worth around £19million.
They own an Embraer 135BJ Legacy 650 that can fly up to 14 passengers in one flight.
The jet has a top speed of 518mph and a maximum range of 3,740 miles, which means it can get to the States from the UK.
But, the Reubens don’t have far to go when it comes to their mansions.
The two, who live privately, are said to have splendid abodes in Monaco, a tax haven for men with money.
Simon is said to have a flat in Knightsbridge, while David is shacked up in Holland Park.
Their private life’s are just that – David’s wife is Debra, an American designer. Simon is married to Joyce Reuben, and they are sometimes seen at high-society functions, mingling with socialites and hanging out with celeb pals including Joan Collins.
FOREIGN VENTURES
If a burgeoning London property portfolio isn’t enough, the Reuben brothers have expanded overseas.
They completed the acquisition of the iconic La Palma Hotel in Capri, the first and oldest hotel on the island, opened in 1822, and are planning an extensive renovation.
La Taverna Anema e Core, Capri’s most famous nightclub, comes with that investment – a spot where Hollywood glitterati like Beyonce, J-Lo and Clooney are happy to let down their hair.
Add to that hotels in Mykonos, Ibiza, Greece and the US, you can imagine Newcastle United’s stars may be thinking they’ll be getting mates’ rates when booking their summer holidays.
FAMILY VALUES
The Reuben heirs are just as flamboyant and interesting as their fathers.
James, the son of David, is managing partner of investment firm, Melbury Capital, as well as a director at Britain’s largest horse racing company, Arena Racing Company.
He is also the first family member to get into football, and currently sits on the board of QPR.
While David’s other son David Jr had a hippyish wedding at the Burning Man festival in Nevada last year, where he married sexy Colombian actress Carolina Guerra.
Their cousin, Lisa works in the contemporary art department of posh auctioneers Sotheby’s.
Her wedding to coal and steel trader Ron Valk took place at the plush Monte Carlo Sporting Carlo, which was decorated with 5,000 white roses for the nuptials.
Whatever the Reubens plans for Newcastle are, it’s clear that they’re not afraid of spending a bit of money.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
