Bernie Ecclestone’s Wife Buys a Very Expensive House in Portugal

A2

Bernie Ecclestone’s Wife Buys a Very Expensive House in Portugal

Introduction

Fabiana Flosi is the wife of Bernie Ecclestone. Bernie was the boss of Formula One racing. Fabiana bought a big house in Portugal. The house cost 35 million euros. This is the most expensive house in the country. It has a swimming pool and a tennis court.

Main Body

The house is in a town near Lisbon. A famous football player lives near the house. His name is Cristiano Ronaldo. Bernie and Fabiana ate dinner at a fish restaurant in the town with their family. Bernie is 95 years old. Fabiana is 49 years old. They have a son. His name is Ace. Ace is five years old. He only uses a computer or phone on Tuesdays. Bernie and Fabiana work as a team to teach their son. Bernie sold many things last year. He sold a very big boat. He also sold 69 fast cars. He got 500 million pounds for the cars. Bernie made a mistake with his taxes. He paid a lot of money to the government. Bernie started work when he was 16 years old. He bought a racing team a long time ago. He sold the rights to show the races on TV. He became a very rich man. He has four children.

Conclusion

The family has a new home in Portugal. Bernie sold his boat and his cars. He paid his taxes to the government. Now the family lives in a beautiful place with famous neighbors.

Vocabulary Learning

expensive (adj.)
costly / costing a lot of money昂貴的;價錢高的
Example:The new car is very expensive.
famous (adj.)
well-known / known by many people著名的;出名的
Example:Cristiano Ronaldo is a famous football player.
government (n.)
the group of people who rule a country政府
Example:People pay taxes to the government every year.
mistake (n.)
error / something that is not correct錯誤;過失
Example:I made a mistake on my English test.
neighbor (n.)
a person living near you鄰居
Example:My neighbor is very friendly and kind.

Sentence Learning

It has a swimming pool and a tennis court.
Connector: The word 'and' joins two similar things together.連接詞: 'and' 一詞將兩個相似的事物連接在一起。
The house is in a town near Lisbon.
Prepositional Phrase: 'In' and 'near' show the specific location of the house.介詞短語: 'In' 和 'near' 顯示了房子的具體位置。
He only uses a computer or phone on Tuesdays.
Time Marker: 'On Tuesdays' tells us the specific day an action happens.時間標記: 'On Tuesdays' 告訴我們動作發生的具體日子。
Bernie sold many things last year.
Time Marker: 'Last year' tells us that the action happened in the past.時間標記: 'Last year' 告訴我們該動作在過去發生。
Now the family lives in a beautiful place with famous neighbors.
Time Marker: 'Now' shows that the situation is happening at the present time.時間標記: 'Now' 表示該情況正於現在發生。
B2

Bernie Ecclestone’s Wife Acquires Record €35 Million Portuguese Estate Following Recent Asset Sales and Tax Settlement

Introduction

Fabiana Flosi, the wife of former Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, has reportedly bought a €35 million mansion in the resort area of Quinta da Marinha, Cascais, Portugal. The Portuguese daily Correio da Manha called it the largest private residential sale in the country's history. The deal was completed three months ago after six months of negotiations. The property, previously owned by Portuguese entrepreneur Marco Galinha, includes a swimming pool, tennis court, and internal lift. This purchase adds to the couple's property collection and puts them near footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, who owns a nearby estate.

Main Body

According to Correio da Manha, the sale price of €35 million makes it the most expensive private home ever sold in Portugal. The mansion is located in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, about 15 miles west of Lisbon. The previous owner, Marco Galinha, is the founder of the Grupo BEL business group. The couple's potential neighbors include Cristiano Ronaldo, whose own mansion in the same development is valued at €30 million. Ecclestone and Flosi were reportedly seen dining at a local seafood restaurant in Cascais with two of Ecclestone's daughters. Family dynamics and parenting approaches have been a topic of public discussion. Ecclestone, aged 95, and Flosi, who is 46 years younger, have a five-year-old son named Ace. In an interview with the German newspaper Bild, Flosi described their co-parenting strategy as a team effort. She noted that Ecclestone uses a calm attitude to make sure Ace follows screen-time rules. She also mentioned that the couple limits Ace's access to online devices to Tuesdays only, a rule that is different from that of his classmates. In a separate interview marking his 95th birthday, Ecclestone described Ace as intelligent and curious. Recent months have seen a series of asset sales by Ecclestone. In October of the previous year, he sold his superyacht Petara, named after his daughters from his second marriage. The yacht, previously worth £17 million with annual running costs of £1.7 million, was sold after being rarely used. Earlier in the same year, Ecclestone sold his collection of 69 Formula One and historic supercars to Red Bull co-owner Mark Mateschitz. Although the final sale price was not disclosed, estimates valued the collection at about £500 million. Ecclestone stated that the vehicles represented 70 years of Formula One history and that he was satisfied they were in good hands. These sales followed a 2023 court case in London, in which Ecclestone admitted he misled HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) about assets abroad. He paid £750 million in unpaid taxes and received a 17-month suspended prison sentence. The court found that he had hidden the existence of a Singapore trust when questioned in July 2015. His legal representative argued that the failure to mention it was not on purpose but resulted from not knowing his financial affairs. Ecclestone's career history provides context for how he built his wealth. Born in East London in 1930, he left school at 16 and started selling motorbike parts while working for the Gas Board. He got into Formula One in 1972 by buying the Brabham team for £100,000. Through his position on the Constructors' Association board, he bought the worldwide TV rights to the sport, which he sold in over 100 countries. By the early 1990s, Formula One was worth £2.5 billion, and Ecclestone was making about £1 million per week. The sport was eventually bought by Liberty Media for £6.4 billion. He has been married three times: to Ivy Bamford (1952), to Croatian model Slavica Radić (1985–2009), and to Fabiana Flosi (2012–present). His divorce from Radić reportedly required him to pay £60 million per year. Ecclestone has four children, including daughters Tamara and Petra from his second marriage.

Conclusion

The purchase of a record-priced Portuguese mansion by Fabiana Flosi adds an important property to the Ecclestone family portfolio. This purchase occurs following significant asset sales and the settlement of a major tax issue, reflecting a period of financial reorganization for the former Formula One magnate. The family's continued presence in Cascais, alongside high-profile neighbors, shows their continued interest in luxury property markets.

Vocabulary Learning

acquire (v.)
obtain / to buy or get something購得;取得
Example:The company plans to acquire several smaller firms to expand its market share.
asset (n.)
possession / something valuable that a person or company owns資產;財產
Example:The businessman decided to sell his overseas assets to pay off his debts.
mislead (v.)
deceive / to cause someone to believe something that is not true誤導;欺騙
Example:The advertisement was designed to mislead consumers about the product's actual price.
negotiation (n.)
discussion / formal talks to reach an agreement談判;協商
Example:After months of negotiation, the two countries finally signed a peace treaty.
portfolio (n.)
collection / a range of investments or properties held by a person組合;投資組合
Example:The investor's portfolio includes stocks, bonds, and luxury real estate.

Sentence Learning

This purchase adds to the couple's property collection and puts them near footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, who owns a nearby estate.
Relative Clause: This non-defining relative clause adds extra information about a person mentioned previously關係子句: 此非限定性關係子句為前文提到的人物提供了額外的補充資訊。
Ecclestone and Flosi were reportedly seen dining at a local seafood restaurant in Cascais with two of Ecclestone's daughters.
Passive Voice: The passive form is used here for formal reporting of an event where the witness is not specified被動語態: 此處使用被動語態進行正式報導,淡化觀察者並聚焦於事件本身。
Although the final sale price was not disclosed, estimates valued the collection at about £500 million.
Linking Word (Contrast): 'Although' is used to connect two contrasting ideas within a single sentence連接詞(對比): 「Although」用於在單一句子中連接兩個具對比意義的觀點。
The court found that he had hidden the existence of a Singapore trust when questioned in July 2015.
Reduced Adverbial Clause: The phrase 'when questioned' is a shortened version of 'when he was questioned,' common in formal writing簡化狀語從句: 短語「when questioned」是「when he was questioned」的縮減形式,常見於正式寫作。
She also mentioned that the couple limits Ace's access to online devices to Tuesdays only, a rule that is different from that of his classmates.
Relative Clause: The clause starting with 'that' defines and provides essential information about the preceding noun 'rule'關係子句: 以「that」引導的子句定義並為前面的名詞「rule」(規則)提供了必要的資訊。
C2

Bernie Ecclestone’s Wife Acquires Record €35 Million Portuguese Estate Amidst Recent Asset Disposals and Tax Settlement

Introduction

Fabiana Flosi, the wife of former Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, has reportedly completed the purchase of a €35 million mansion in the resort area of Quinta da Marinha, Cascais, Portugal. The transaction, described by the Portuguese daily Correio da Manha as the largest private residential sale in the country’s history, was finalized three months ago after six months of negotiations. The property, previously owned by Portuguese entrepreneur Marco Galinha, includes a swimming pool, tennis court, and internal lift. The acquisition adds to the couple’s real estate portfolio and places them in proximity to footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, who owns a nearby estate.

Main Body

The property acquisition represents a significant real estate transaction in Portugal. According to Correio da Manha, the sale price of €35 million makes it the most expensive private home ever sold in the country. The mansion is located in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, approximately 15 miles west of Lisbon. The previous owner, Marco Galinha, is the founder of the Grupo BEL business conglomerate. The couple’s potential neighbours include Cristiano Ronaldo, whose own mansion in the same development is valued at €30 million. Ecclestone and Flosi were reportedly seen dining at a local seafood restaurant in Cascais with two of Ecclestone’s daughters. Family dynamics and parenting approaches have been a subject of public discussion. Ecclestone, aged 95, and Flosi, 46 years his junior, have a five-year-old son named Ace. In an interview with the German newspaper Bild, Flosi described their co-parenting strategy as a team effort, noting that Ecclestone uses a calm demeanor to enforce screen-time limits. She also mentioned that the couple restricts Ace’s access to online devices to Tuesdays only, a policy that differs from that of his classmates. Ecclestone, in a separate interview marking his 95th birthday, characterized Ace as bright and curious. Recent months have seen a series of asset disposals by Ecclestone. In October of the previous year, he sold his superyacht Petara, named after his daughters from his second marriage. The vessel, previously valued at £17 million with annual running costs of £1.7 million, was sold after limited use. Earlier in the same year, Ecclestone sold his collection of 69 Formula One and historic supercars to Red Bull co-owner Mark Mateschitz. Although the final sale price was not disclosed, estimates placed the collection’s value at approximately £500 million. Ecclestone stated that the vehicles represented 70 years of Formula One history and that he was satisfied they were in capable hands. These disposals followed a 2023 legal proceeding in London, in which Ecclestone admitted to misleading HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) regarding overseas assets. He paid £750 million in back taxes and received a 17-month suspended sentence. The court found that he had concealed the existence of a Singapore trust when questioned in July 2015. His legal representative argued that the omission was not intentional but resulted from a lack of awareness of his financial affairs. Ecclestone’s career trajectory provides context for his wealth accumulation. Born in East London in 1930, he left school at 16 and began trading motorbike parts while working for the Gas Board. He entered Formula One in 1972 by purchasing the Brabham team for £100,000. Through his position on the Constructors’ Association board, he acquired the global television rights to the sport, which he sold in over 100 countries. By the early 1990s, Formula One was valued at £2.5 billion, and Ecclestone was earning an estimated £1 million per week. The sport was eventually sold to Liberty Media for £6.4 billion. He has been married three times: to Ivy Bamford (1952), to Croatian model Slavica Radić (1985–2009), and to Fabiana Flosi (2012–present). His divorce from Radić reportedly involved annual payments of £60 million to him. Ecclestone has four children, including daughters Tamara and Petra from his second marriage.

Conclusion

The acquisition of a record-priced Portuguese mansion by Fabiana Flosi adds a notable real estate asset to the Ecclestone family portfolio. This purchase occurs against a backdrop of significant asset sales and the resolution of a major tax dispute, reflecting a period of financial restructuring for the former Formula One magnate. The family’s continued presence in Cascais, alongside high-profile neighbours, underscores their sustained engagement with luxury property markets.

Vocabulary Learning

conglomerate (n.)
corporation / a large corporation formed by the merging of separate and diverse firms企業集團
Example:The multinational conglomerate expanded its operations into the renewable energy sector last year.
demeanor (n.)
manner / a person's outward behavior or bearing風度;舉止;行為
Example:His calm demeanor during the crisis helped reassure the rest of the team.
disposal (n.)
divestment / the act of selling an asset or property資產處置;變賣
Example:The strategic disposal of underperforming subsidiaries improved the company's financial health.
magnate (n.)
tycoon / a person of great wealth, influence, or power in a particular enterprise巨頭;大亨
Example:The real estate magnate owns several of the most iconic skyscrapers in the city.
trajectory (n.)
path / the path followed by something or the development of something over time發展歷程;軌跡
Example:The young athlete's career trajectory suggests she will be a world champion within a few years.

Sentence Learning

The transaction, described by the Portuguese daily Correio da Manha as the largest private residential sale in the country’s history, was finalized three months ago after six months of negotiations.
Non-restrictive Participial Phrase: The past participial phrase 'described by...' acts as an appositive, adding descriptive detail about the 'transaction' without affecting the core sentence structure.非限制性分詞短語: 過去分詞短語 'described by...' 作為同位語,增加了關於 'transaction' 的描述性細節,而不影響句子的核心結構。
These disposals followed a 2023 legal proceeding in London, in which Ecclestone admitted to misleading HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) regarding overseas assets.
Prepositional Relative Clause: The use of 'in which' creates a formal and precise link, specifying the context of the 'legal proceeding' where the admission occurred.介詞引導的關係從句: 使用 'in which' 建立了正式且精確的聯繫,明確說明了該 'legal proceeding'(法律程序)中發生承認行為的背景。
The court found that he had concealed the existence of a Singapore trust when questioned in July 2015.
Reduced Adverbial Clause: The phrase 'when questioned' is a reduced temporal clause, omitting the subject and auxiliary verb ('when he was questioned') to achieve a more concise, professional tone.縮減狀語從句: 'when questioned' 是一個縮減的時間狀語從句,省略了主語和助動詞(原為 'when he was questioned'),以達到更簡潔、專業的語調。
Ecclestone and Flosi were reportedly seen dining at a local seafood restaurant in Cascais with two of Ecclestone’s daughters.
Passive Reporting Structure: This construction ('were reportedly seen dining') uses a passive reporting verb followed by a present participle to convey information based on hearsay or observation.被動報導結構: 此結構('were reportedly seen dining')使用被動報導動詞,後接現在分詞,用以傳達基於傳聞或觀察的資訊。
Although the final sale price was not disclosed, estimates placed the collection’s value at approximately £500 million.
Concessive Clause: The use of 'Although' introduces a subordinate clause that acknowledges a factual limitation, providing a nuanced contrast to the main clause's estimation.讓步從句: 使用 'Although' 引導從句以承認事實上的限制,與主句的估算形成細微的對比。