“I don't know what the price of drinks is in my hotel, because I never buy any. I make it a policy never to give anything away. If stuck-up people in Gstaad and elsewhere don't like me, I don't care – I come from a line of 18,000-year-old hobbits. In any case, I don't go into town. I hide out in my house nearby with my wife.
“Slavica likes parties and stays out in Gstaad longer than I do. I don't like that sort of thing. The worst thing you could do to me would be to send me on holiday – doing nothing would kill me.”
The sport's ringmaster has been married for 25 years to Croatian-born former model Slavica Radic, who at 6ft 2in tall to his 5ft 3in practically dwarfs him. The couple met whilst she was modeling for Armani in Italy, and at 28 years his junior he admits they have somewhat different tastes.
“I liked her because she was attractive and younger,” he acknowledged. “I didn't want anyone older; I didn't see much point in that.
“Slavica is from Croatia; these people have more character and passion. Slavica is a good wife and mother and a bit mad. If she is upset with you, she lets you know about it.
“She moans all the time. She doesn't think I should have a [driving] licence – me a
Formula 1 man! The trouble is, she is a back-seat driver and she says I go too fast.
“Why do you think people are faithful? It's only because of fear; fear of the financial disaster of a divorce. I asked Slavica about the possibility of me having a mistress, but she didn't like the idea of that, so I gave it up. It would have been nothing but trouble.”
The couple have two daughters together, model and TV presenter Tamara and 18-year-old Petra, as well as homes in Chelsea and Gstaad, a yacht and two private jets. There was also a house in Sardinia, but Ecclestone sold it.
“I got rid of it because they were kidnapping rich people,” he explained. “I was worried, as I knew if I got kidnapped my wife wouldn't pay to get me back, so I thought we'd better leave!”
