Former Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has opened up on his unique parenting situation, his one surviving friend and the record sale of his extraordinary car collection as he celebrates his 95th birthday.
The British billionaire is reportedly marking the impressive milestone quietly in the Swiss village of Gstaad with his wife, Fabiana, 49, and their five-year-old son, Ace, reflecting on a life that has stretched from post-war Britain to the top of global sport.
The couple, who divide their time between Switzerland and Brazil, say they are focused on family life and raising their young son together in the Alps.
Their approach, detailed in a lengthy interview with German outlet Bild, is calm and structured – no screen time for Ace during the week, firm rules on homework and an emphasis on conversation at dinner.
Ecclestone, once the most powerful figure in motorsport, is now enjoying a far quieter existence.
‘Ace is a wonderful boy,’ he told Bild. ‘He’s bright, curious and interested in everything.’ Fabiana added that the pair work as a team, explaining that her husband’s patience often balances her firmer approach.
Bernie Ecclestone and his wife Fabiana met in 2009 at the World Motor Sport Council, with her working in marketing for the Brazilian Grand Prix before tying the knot in 2012
Ecclestone’s eldest daughter, Deborah, recently turned 70, while his youngest, five-year-old Ace, has only just started school
The 95-year-old was once the most powerful figure in motorsport and helped build the sport into a multibillion-pound empire
Their family life contrasts sharply with Ecclestone’s earlier years, when he built F1 into a multibillion-pound empire through sheer force of will and ruthless negotiation. The 95-year-old, who still follows every race and practice session, said money was never the motivation, it was always about ideas and control.
Earlier this year, Daily Mail Sport revealed that Ecclestone had sold his private collection of 69 Grand Prix cars, valued at around £500million.
Red Bull heir Mark Mateschitz completed the purchase following private negotiations, taking ownership of what is believed to be the largest personal collection of F1 cars.
Confirming the deal, Ecclestone said: ‘These are unique vehicles. They have written sport history and marked technical milestones. They embody 70 years of F1 history.’
He added: ‘It means a great deal to me to know that this collection is now in the very best of hands.’
Ecclestone maintained that Mateschitz was ‘the most worthy owner we could ever imagine’.
Mateschitz said: ‘It will be carefully preserved, expanded over the years, and, in the near future, it will be made accessible to the public.’
Bild also reports that Ecclestone has sold one of his yachts and plans to offload another as part of a wider effort to simplify his life. Fabiana is said to have described the decision as practical, explaining that the vessels were used for barely a week each year.
Red Bull billionaire Mark Mateschitz, centre, completed the purchase of the car collection earlier this year
The collection includes 69 cars, which Ecclestone says embodies 70 years of F1 history
The clear-out follows a 2023 court case in London in which Ecclestone admitted misleading authorities about overseas assets and paid £750m in back taxes.
The case ended with a 17-month suspended sentence, sparing him jail but closing a turbulent chapter in his long career.
Despite his fortune, estimated at around £3bn, Ecclestone and his wife live modestly in their chalet overlooking the mountains. He spends mornings reading, afternoons walking, and evenings at home with his family.
At 95, Ecclestone’s family tree is remarkable. His eldest daughter, Deborah, recently turned 70, while his youngest, Ace, has only just started school.
‘It’s quite something,’ he said. ‘You look at your oldest and youngest and realise how much has happened in between.’
Ace attends an international preschool near the family’s home and speaks English, Portuguese and Swiss-German.
Fabiana has said she wants her son to appreciate normal routines despite his parents’ wealth.
Ecclestone further reflected on the friendships that shaped his life in racing. Of his four closest friends, only one – former Renault and Benetton boss Flavio Briatore – is still alive.
Ecclestone further reflected on the friendships and revealed that of his four closest friends, only one – former Renault and Benetton boss Flavio Briatore – is still alive
The others, Austrian world champion Jochen Rindt, FIA president Max Mosley and three-time world champion Niki Lauda, have all died, leaving the former F1 chief to reflect on a shrinking circle of confidants built over half a century in the paddock.
‘Many people came and went,’ Ecclestone added. ‘But real friends, those who stay with you through everything, there were very few. I think there were four – now just one.’
