A former Virginia socialite's son who
sold the front yard of his family's mansion to the Donald Trump real
estate empire says he's been cheated and wants the land back.
The John W. Kluge Jr. Trust is suing for the return of 217 acres fronting Albemarle House, which Trump bought last year for $6.5 million.
The estate formerly was owned by Patricia Kluge, ex-wife of the late billionaire John Kluge.
Before buying the mansion, Trump
Virginia Acquisitions paid $150,000 for the land in front. The lawsuit
says Trump agreed to pay more if he was able to buy the mansion but has
refused to do so. Plaintiffs' attorney Edward MacMahon says the second
payment should be about $200,000.
Trump's son Eric, who heads the company, has denied owing the money.
Donald Trump snapped up the lawn and driveway of the bankrupt billionaire divorcee’s mansion in an attempt to pick up her foreclosed house from the bank for pennies to the dollar
The mogul bought the 200 acres surrounding the Virginia home of former socialite and belly dancer Patricia Kluge, who became known as 'the wealthiest divorcee in history', for the bargain price of $500,000.
He later purchased the lavish
45-room neo-Georgian Albemarle House for a quarter of the $16 million
asking price saying that no-one else would want to buy it because he
owns the front yard, most of the driveway and back yard.
Trump paid $6.5 million for the home but the seller says Trump still owes him.
Mrs Kluge had entertained royalty, moguls and celebrities at her sprawling Virginia estate in the 1980s.
The Briton netted a reported $1 billion after splitting from media mogul John Kluge in 1990 but declared herself bankrupt after she crashed financially and her winemaking business failed.
As Mrs Kluge’s wealth unraveled, Mr Trump snapped up parts of her estate.
He bought her 1,000 acre winery before picking up 200 acres of land around the house for less than $500,000 from a trust set up for Mrs Kluge’s son John Jr before Mrs Kluge foreclosed on the mansion in February.
Bank of America, which owned the foreclosed house, tried to sell it for $16 million.
But in a cunning move, the Donald bought up the property surrounding the 23,500-square-foot house in a bid to get the lavish mansion on the cheap.
Mr Trump later bought the home, which has a spa, home theater, 3,500-bottle wine cellar and 2,000-square-foot sitting room.
Mrs Kluge owned the house since she acquired it as part of her bumper divorce from billionaire media mogel John Kluge, who died in September 2010.
The
one-time star of adult film 'The Nine Acres of Nakedness' became known
as the host of extravagant parties attended by the rich and famous.
The house was designed after an 18th-century English country manor with multilevel gardens, fountains, a swimming pool and rustic guest cabin.
In the 1980s, Mrs Kluge hosted opulent events for royalty, corporate chieftains, celebrities and literary figures at the home, which Mrs Kluge once said defined her.
The John W. Kluge Jr. Trust is suing for the return of 217 acres fronting Albemarle House, which Trump bought last year for $6.5 million.
The estate formerly was owned by Patricia Kluge, ex-wife of the late billionaire John Kluge.
Debt: The seller of Albemarle House in Charlottesville, Virginia says the Trumps still owe them money
Sale: Donald Trump (pictured in 2011 with former
owner Patricia Kluge, right) purchased the estate to start the Trump
Vineyard Estates and Winery, run by his son Eric Trump
Trump's son Eric, who heads the company, has denied owing the money.
Donald Trump snapped up the lawn and driveway of the bankrupt billionaire divorcee’s mansion in an attempt to pick up her foreclosed house from the bank for pennies to the dollar
The mogul bought the 200 acres surrounding the Virginia home of former socialite and belly dancer Patricia Kluge, who became known as 'the wealthiest divorcee in history', for the bargain price of $500,000.
Bankrupt: Patricia Kluge and her husband Bill Moses' Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyard was forced into foreclosure
Surrounded: Mr Trump originally bough all the
land surrounding the mansion and then ultimately purchased the sprawling
home for $6.5 million
John Kluge Jr. has accused Trump of cheating him out of $200,000
Mrs Kluge had entertained royalty, moguls and celebrities at her sprawling Virginia estate in the 1980s.
The Briton netted a reported $1 billion after splitting from media mogul John Kluge in 1990 but declared herself bankrupt after she crashed financially and her winemaking business failed.
As Mrs Kluge’s wealth unraveled, Mr Trump snapped up parts of her estate.
He bought her 1,000 acre winery before picking up 200 acres of land around the house for less than $500,000 from a trust set up for Mrs Kluge’s son John Jr before Mrs Kluge foreclosed on the mansion in February.
Bank of America, which owned the foreclosed house, tried to sell it for $16 million.
But in a cunning move, the Donald bought up the property surrounding the 23,500-square-foot house in a bid to get the lavish mansion on the cheap.
Mr Trump later bought the home, which has a spa, home theater, 3,500-bottle wine cellar and 2,000-square-foot sitting room.
Mrs Kluge owned the house since she acquired it as part of her bumper divorce from billionaire media mogel John Kluge, who died in September 2010.
The house was designed after an 18th-century English country manor with multilevel gardens, fountains, a swimming pool and rustic guest cabin.
In the 1980s, Mrs Kluge hosted opulent events for royalty, corporate chieftains, celebrities and literary figures at the home, which Mrs Kluge once said defined her.