Naomi reveals she's been secretly dating a Russian billionaire

11 April 2012
The Weekender

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Naomi Campbell is secretly dating a billionaire regarded as one of Russia’s most eligible bachelors.



The supermodel introduced Vladislav Doronin, a property tycoon, to 12 of her most trusted friends at a rowdy dinner party last week on a yacht off St Tropez in the South of France.

Naomi Campbell with Vladislav Doronin at Nelson Mandela's birthday bash at London's Hyde Park

Naomi Campbell with Vladislav Doronin at Nelson Mandela's birthday bash at London's Hyde Park

With an estimated £1.5billion fortune, 46-year-old Doronin has a penchant for high-living and beautiful women that has earned him the nickname of Moscow’s Donald Trump.

His property projects include Moscow City, a spectacular Canary Wharf-style development that is helping transform the once-poor city into a glamorous destination.
Naomi, 38, met him at the Cannes Film Festival in May, shortly after the outburst on a British Airways flight that led to her arrest, and they have been inseparable ever since.

During the all-night party on the yacht, the pair were seen dancing closely to the music of a gipsy band.

One of Naomi’s guests, Brazilian writer Bruno Astuto, said: ‘They danced and kissed tenderly the whole night.

Naomi on her way to lunch with friends at La Voile Rouge beach in St Tropez last month

Naomi on her way to lunch with friends at La Voile Rouge beach in St Tropez last month

‘She said it was love at first sight and he is completely in love with her. Watching them look deeply into each other’s eyes, it was obvious that this is a very serious affair.

'He thinks she is a goddess and Naomi believes she finally has found the right man. She is now planning a really big party for Vlad, where we hope they will announce their engagement.

‘Vlad is like Naomi in that he likes to have fun. But he is also a very gentle, very calm person and that makes Naomi calm. She is in a good phase of her life now because she is living a big love story.’

The supermodel on the catwalk for Dolce and Gabbana's 2009 Spring collection

The supermodel on the catwalk for Dolce and Gabbana's 2009 Spring collection

The group on the yacht included Gordon Brown’s multi-millionaire environmental adviser, Johann Eliasch, and one of Naomi’s ex-suitors, Dubai playboy Badr Jafar.

Her tempestuous love life has also included a romance with motor-racing tycoon Flavio Briatore and one engagement, to U2 bassist Adam Clayton.

According to one Russian acquaintance of Doronin:

‘Vladislav has dated beautiful women before, but to embark on such a high-profile relationship with an icon such as Naomi Campbell shows he has reached a stage in life where, having made money through astute property deals, he is ready to have some fun.’

The secretive oligarch - previously wrongly identified as Brazilian Marcus Elias - attended the recent London dinner for Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday, where Naomi was also a guest.

Astuto revealed: ‘Vlad started to bid for a bronze mould of Mandela’s hand in the auction conducted by Will Smith.

‘He wanted to give it to Naomi, but she quietly told him to stop when the bidding reached £1.7million. She told him she would prefer him to give the money directly to Mandela’s charity.’

Doronin’s spokeswoman said she could not comment on his private life.

If Ms Campbell does marry Russian property billionaire Vladislav Doronin, this could be her home.

The tycoon is building the futuristic house – called Capital Hill and resembling something from TV’s Thunderbirds – in a pine forest near Moscow.

This architect’s impression shows the master-bedroom suite perched 60ft above the building for views over the forest canopy, with lifts running up three slender towers.

An artist's impression of Capital Hill the tycoon is having built in a pine forest near Moscow

An artist's impression of Capital Hill the tycoon is having built in a pine forest near Moscow

Designed by Zaha Hadid, who is among the architects for the 2012 London Olympics, the four-floor, white structure is built into a hillside and is said to include an indoor swimming pool that converts into a dance floor.

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