Millionaire tells court 'money cannot buy love' as estranged wife fights for £6m

A millionaire American lawyer embroiled in a British High Court cash fight with his fifth wife told a judge today that “money cannot buy you love”.

Richard Fields, 59, admitted being “generous” to women and a hearing in London had been told of gifts including a diamond ring, Porsche cars and a shopping spree at Saks Fifth Avenue.

But Mr Fields told Mr Justice Holman: “I know that money cannot buy you love.”

Mr Fields and estranged wife Ekaterina Fields – a 42-year-old Russian former beauty queen – are fighting over who gets what at a public hearing in the Family Division of the High Court.

Mr Justice Holman has been told that the couple were married for about a decade, have two children and disagree over the division of assets worth around £6 million.

The judge has also heard that the dispute could cost the couple more than £1 million in legal bills.

Lawyers have said Mrs Fields, who has told reporters outside court that she is a model and a former Miss World University, has been married twice and Mr Fields five times.

Mr Fields told Mr Justice Holman that he had been unhappy with Mrs Fields and had been ``exiled to the sofa''.

“I feel horrible that our relationship has come to this point,” he said.

“I have spent years sleeping on the sofa. There were other things and I don’t want to talk about them in public.”

He added: “My decision to divorce my wife was the result of a long unhappy relationship in which I felt abused.”

Mr Fields said relationships were “complicated”.

“I care deeply about her,” he said. “She is the mother of my children.”

He added: “Today I want her to be peaceful so she can have a happy life.”

Mr Fields said that Mrs Fields had previously been married to a wealthy banker.

Mrs Fields earlier told the court that she did not intend to work in future.

She said she was a ”very good wife” and she would try to find a new husband.

Mrs Fields – who says she has a business studies degree and has worked as a personal assistant and tried real estate brokerage and diamond trading – was questioned by a barrister representing Mr Fields.

Stephen Trowell QC asked her: ”Do you intend to work at all after today?”

Mrs Fields replied ”No. I intend to make attempts at making money ... It is unclear at this point how I would succeed.”

She added: ”I am a very good wife. I will try to find a husband.”

Mrs Fields has denied marrying Mr Fields for money.

A barrister representing her said Mr Fields had portrayed her as a “gold digger”.

Lewis Marks QC told the judge: ”It is the husband’s case that my client married him for his money and he indulged her throughout.”

Mrs Fields said: ”It was not at all the dynamic of the relationship.”

The hearing continues.