Boris Becker in financial ruin as he is declared £54 MILLION in debt
Tennis great Boris Becker is in debt to the tune of 54 million pounds and is facing having his homes and personal property repossessed, according to German media.
Magazines Stern and Bunte say the bankruptcy declaration in London three months ago was only the 'tip of the iceberg' of what he actually owes.
Bunte claims a court appointed insolvency administrator has found the mountain of debt built up by the 49-year-old tennis champion.
The magazine claims the firm of Smith & Williamson has produced a report detailing the parlous state of his finances.
It further reported that the auction house Wyles Hardy & Co. may now to be charged with estimating the value of his trophies and memorabilia. Becker is thought to have been asked not to remove these pieces from his London house or from his mother's house in Germany.
Magazines Stern and Bunte say the bankruptcy declaration in London three months ago was only the 'tip of the iceberg' of what the three-time Wimbledon champion (pictured) actually owes.
The revelation comes just months after it emerged that Becker, who is married to wife Lilly, 41, had been declared bankrupt over a debt of £3.34million owed to a private bank.
Boris married first wife Barbara Feltus in December 1993, and their son Noah Gabriel, now 23, was born a month later. Their second child, Elias Balthasar, now 17, was born on 4 September 1999.
On 15 January 2001, Becker was granted a divorce, with Barbara receiving a hefty $14.4 million settlement, their condominium on the exclusive Fisher island in Florida, and custody of Noah and Elias.
Becker and his current wife, Dutch model Lilly, 41, live in Wimbledon for part of the year but their main residence is said to be in Switzerland.
The twice-married father-of-four wed Lilly in Switzerland in 2009 and they had a son the following year.
Becker and his current wife, Dutch model Lilly, 41, live in Wimbledon for part of the year but their main residence is said to be in Switzerland.
Bunte claims a court-appointed insolvency administrator found the mountain of debt built up by the 49-year-old tennis champion.
The magazine claims the firm of Smith and Williamson has produced a 24 page report detailing the parlous state of his finances.
In addition it is alleged luxury watches valued at nearly £40,000 have already been seized from him.
In June the former grand slam champ was declared bankrupt by the High Court in London.
Lawyers for the three-time Wimbledon winner pleaded with a Bankruptcy Court registrar in London for "a last chance" to pay back a long-standing debt.
But judge Christine Derrett said it was "with regret" she concluded there was a lack of credible evidence that his "substantial" debt would be paid soon, refusing to adjourn the case for another 28 days.
She said of 49-year-old Becker, who did not attend the hearing: "One has the impression of a man with his head in the sand."
The bankruptcy application was made by private bankers Arbuthnot Latham & Co in connection with a judgment debt owed to them by Becker dating as far back as 2015.
Becker's lawyers argued the tennis ace would be able to pay the debt through a refinancing arrangement, involving remortgaging a property in Mallorca expected to raise €6million (£5.26million).
His advocate told the registrar Becker expected the deal would be approved by a Spanish bank in about a month. He said it would be in the bank's interest for Becker to pay off the debt.
Becker's Mallorcan villa was previously confiscated by the Palma authorities in 2014 after he failed to pay £312,300 he allegedly owed a local builder, the Daily Mail reported.
The property was previously confiscated after he became embroiled in a court case over £246,000 he allegedly owed his gardener.
When the registrar was told that Becker was a television commentator, she replied: "I know exactly who he is. I remember watching him play on Center Court, which probably shows my age."
Becker's lawyers said he was trying to sell his villa in Mallorca and hoped to get £5.26million for it
Becker's advocate, John Briggs, told the registrar bankruptcy was likely to have an adverse effect on the former tennis champ's "image".
But she replied: "He should have thought about that a long time ago."
She added: "It is not often the case that a professional person has a judgment outstanding against them since October 2015. This is a historic debt.
The star also owns a home in Wimbledon, reportedly worth £5million
"One has the impression of a man with his head in the sand."
Mr Briggs said: "He is not a sophisticated individual when it comes to finances.
"I am asking for a real last chance for Mr Becker to come good... It has just taken longer than anticipated."
Mr Becker, once reputedly worth £160million, stunned the world back in 1985 when he became the youngest player to win Wimbledon at 17.
The father-of-four went on to rack up six grand slams and romanced a succession of beautiful women.
In 1999 he romped with waitress Angela Ermakova in the broom cupboard of London restaurant Nobu just hours after his pregnant first wife Barbara was rushed to hospital with contractions.
Becker when he won the men's final at Wimbledon in 1989
The champ was consoling himself with a few drinks after losing a match a Wimbledon, but the bunk-up led to the birth of his third child.
He and Barbara divorced in 2001, with her taking £10million and a £1.8million house in Florida.
After his split with wife Barbara, Becker was briefly engaged to Alessandra Meyer-Wolden, but they broke up in 2008.
Becker and his second wife Lilly arrive at a Sports For Peace Fundraising Ball last year
In 2009, he announced on a German TV show he was engaged to Dutch model Sharlely "Lilly" Kerssenberg - his current wife.
He reportedly splashed out to marry Lilly at luxury Swiss resort St Moritz in 2009.
Becker's fourth child was born in 2010 in London, where he now lives for six months of the year.
His home, which is reportedly worth £5million, is just a stone's throw from the All-England Club in Wimbledon.
Since retiring from playing, the tennis ace has been a regular commentator and TV personality.
Boris is hugged by Novak Djokovic after he beat Roger Federer in 2015
In 2013 he began coaching world number four Novak Djokovic, but the pair made a "mutual decision" to split in December.
Becker told Sky at the time: "It was mutual, a decision like this doesn’t happen overnight.
"The last six months have been challenging on many levels, the fact that he was winning his lifelong dream – the French Open – where he held four grand slams in a row, the first since 1969, naturally he wanted to spend more time with his family."
After the bankruptcy hearing, Becker said: "I was surprised and disappointed that Arbuthnot Latham chose to bring these proceedings against me.
"This order relates to one disputed loan which I was due to repay in full in one month’s time.
"It is disappointing that my request for today’s hearing to be postponed until this time was refused.
"My earnings are well publicised and it is clear that I have the means to repay this debt.
"The value of the asset in question far exceeds the debt owed to Arbuthnot Latham.
"I intend to make an application to have this order set aside immediately.
"In the meantime, I will concentrate on my work and in particular my presenting duties at Wimbledon for the BBC and other international outlets."
