Billionaire Phones4U founder John Caudwell ‘provided to pay £10m to clear Sarah Ferguson’s money owed in return for half of her future earnings’, e mail to Jeffrey Epstein reveals
Billionaire Phones4U founder John Caudwell offered to cover Sarah Ferguson‘s £10million debts in return for half of her future earnings, emails have suggested.
David Stern, one of Jeffrey Epstein‘s advisers, told the paedophile financier in 2009 that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s former wife was ’10million’ in the red.
The emails show Epstein wrote to Mr Stern on November 6: ‘Fergie will be in in an hour.’ Mr Stern replied later that day: ‘Please ask her about bankruptcy. It’s option 1.
‘Option 2 is deal with John Caudwell (english, founder of Phones4U) who wants 50% of her life earnings going forward for 10m, meaning paying off her debt (this offer needs to be verified if its real!).’
The email footer includes mention of tax consultancy and accounting firm Asia Gateway, a company founded by German investor Mr Stern which he ran until 2013.
The messages were discovered among more than three million documents relating to Epstein which were released by the US Department of Justice on January 30.
Since then, Mr Caudwell’s team have clarified that he met Fergie through his support of her charity work, and she later approached him to talk about clearing her debts.
His office also said that he did not know Fergie was speaking with Epstein about the matter, adding that Mr Caudwell eventually decided against doing a deal with her.
Mr Caudwell and Fergie are believed to have remained friends, given she was invited to his daughter Libby’s lavish three-day wedding in Montenegro in June 2019 – just two months before Epstein was found dead in his New York prison cell.
John Caudwell with Sarah Ferguson at his daughter Libby’s wedding in Montenegro in 2019
John Caudwell, pictured with his partner Modesta Vzesniauskaite in London in June last year
Emails between David Stern and Jeffrey Epstein about John Caudwell and Sarah Ferguson
A spokesperson for Mr Caudwell said: ‘Sarah Ferguson and John Caudwell were long-time acquaintances who initially met through John Caudwell’s support for some of Sarah Ferguson’s charity work.
‘Sarah Ferguson later approached John Caudwell to discuss a potential business transaction to help clear her debt.
‘To be absolutely clear, until now, John Caudwell was unaware that Sarah Ferguson was consulting Jeffrey Epstein or anyone else on this matter.
‘John Caudwell has never met or had any association or correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein.
‘John Caudwell ultimately decided not to go through with the business transaction at the time.’
Mr Stern was a trusted confidante of Andrew and acted as a go-between for the royal and Epstein at times.
He was also involved with Andrew’s Pitch@Palace initiative which was based at Buckingham Palace.
Meanwhil separate emails have shown Epstein discussed how Fergie was considering going bankrupt ahead of a ‘big meeting’ at Royal Lodge when her finances were in peril.
Epstein was told that Andrew and Fergie wanted to hold the summit at their Windsor mansion on September 1, 2010.
An unidentified person sent an email to Epstein two days earlier on August 30, saying ‘F writes me below. It’s better if I do NOT go, correct? PA says its up to me.’
Andrew and Sarah with David Stern, one of Epstein’s advisers who acted as a go-between
‘F’ is believed to be Fergie and ‘PA’ is thought to refer to then-Prince Andrew.
The message quoted by that person from Fergie said: ‘Can you come down to Royal Lodge on sept 1st .. Wednesday.. To a big meeting of the way ahead of ME! Prince Andrew is calling it for 10.30am and then lunch afterwards.
‘I would really need your help, not just then, but maybe we can talk today, tomorrow. I am worried I need a ceo to run me.. Cannot do this without you.’
Epstein replied to the email from the person, saying: ‘Ask Andrew what he wants.. she said they might suggest her going bankrupt. when i spoke to her last week. I think you need to go. otherwise, she will go after you.’
The emails have also revealed Andrew went cap in hand to Epstein to settle a debt of $126,721 owed by Fergie to her PA – shedding new light on what he may have been discussing with Epstein on their notorious Central Park walk in New York in 2010.
During her marriage, Fergie spent wildly on staff, holidays, parties and flowers – with no regard for settling bills.
She reportedly had debts in excess of £3.7million by 1994 and became well-known for running up huge bills in stores such as Harrods without paying.
Andrew has always strenuously denied any wrongdoing.
