At just 22 years old, she's a billionairess with a $175million real estate portfolio.
In an interview with ABC's Good Morning America, Petra Ecclestone - who has well and truly cemented her high-roller status by buying Candy Spelling's former LA home - insists that she is not spoilt, just privileged. And there is, she says, a big difference between the two.
Guardedly revealing what made her fall for the $85million mansion, and what others may think of the London girl for doing so, the younger daughter of Formula 1 racing mogul, Bernie Ecclestone, spoke to ABC News in London.
GMA asked the blonde: 'People are going to look...mainly with envy, scorn, disdain perhaps. Why did you do this? Why did you buy this house?'
'Firstly, it was a great investment. I got a really good deal, and it's kind of like prime real estate.'
That's one way of putting it, Ms Ecclestone.
The new Ecclestone pad is America's most expensive home. The largest family home in LA - which Ms Ecclestone bought in cash for a cool $65million less than the original asking price of $150m- is known locally as 'Candyland' and sits in six acres of groomed lawns.
She says it's a great investment. According to GMA, the home has 14 bedrooms, a bowling alley, a swimming pool, tennis court, a gift wrapping room, a flower cutting room, a 100 car garage, a kitchen bigger than many restaurants' and, at 57,000 square feet, is bigger than the White House.
Ms Ecclestone reportedly borrowed $82.4million from her Croatian mother, former Armani model, Slavica, to purchase the pile. (mummy, can I borrow a few quid pleeeese?)
'I'm planning to move to LA. I wanted to have an amazing home. Hopefully in the future I'll be raising a family... and my family from London will be coming to visit,' she says with a laugh, 'so I need loads of space.'
Welcome to my humble abode: The 57,000 square-foot mansion has a grand entrance hall and sweeping staircases - where to from here for the 22-year-old?
Her family may indeed come with some baggage. Besides the fact that Ms Ecclestone is a self-confessed shoe and handbag girl - 'I love accessories. I'm a girl. I love shoes. I love handbags,' she told GMA, her older sister Tamara, 27, was recently snapped taking a helicopter to the shops in Monaco.
Although the former model and hopeful fashion designer says she collects art, she also admits to owning 'a few' Hermes Birkin bags, costing up to $65,000 each.
It's perhaps not hard to see why Petra and Tamara have been compared to other heiresses, the Hilton and the Kardashian sisters.
Applauding Paris Hilton's business sense - 'She's, like, a really clever businesswoman' - Ms Ecclestone's clearly not one to miss a 'good deal', either.
Dynasty: Bernie Ecclestone with his heiress daughters, Petra and Tamara. Working since 15, 80-year-old Bernie is now reportedly worth $2.5 billion
'It really was a great investment. ... I've got a house in London and I just kind of buy prime real estate that I know hopefully won't go down in value.' she told GMA.
Ms Ecclestone already owns a Georgian house in Chelsea (London) that is valued at $90million. Candyland pushes her real estate portfolio of personal-use homes to over $175million.
'When you bought that home, did it cross your mind that you could have built affordable housing for a thousand families?' asked GMA.
'I help as much as I can, but at the end of the day, however much the house has cost, that's not going to, I don't know, like, change the world,' she said.
'I'm a hard-working girl. I go to the office. I work a normal 9 to 5 job most days,' said Ms Ecclestone, who is soon to delve into the business world by launching a handbag range, Stark.
'My mum came from such humble beginnings and especially my dad as well. He didn't go to university,' she said. 'He kind of worked up from the age of 15 and now he's nearly 80 and he's still working hard. He doesn't need to work.'
'I'm not spoilt. I'm privileged. And I think there's a big difference.'
Ms Ecclestone, who grew up in London, plans to move to LA after marrying businessman beau Jamie Stunt, 26, on August bank holiday.
Her father, who is worth a reported £2.5billion, will fly 300 guests to Italy to mark her marriage to the businessman.
HOW THE PILE STACKS UP
14 bedrooms
57,000 square feet
Garage for 100 cars
Tennis Court
Pool
Two-lane bowling alley
Flower cutting room
Gift wrapping room
Six acres of lawns
Too many bathrooms to count
The couple have asked for no gifts, instead encouraging guests to donate to the Meningitis Trust. Ms Ecclestone contracted the illness as a child and now acts as an Ambassador and spokesperson for the charity.
Following in the footsteps of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, the couple will marry in 13th Century Odescalchi Castle near Rome, where Ms Ecclestone says the wedding will be 'as low key as I can be - I try.'
Given that Rihanna played at the couple's engagement party in May - and the Black Eyed Peas are rumoured to be performing at the wedding party for a mere $1million fee- we're clearly not talking about a shoestring wedding.
After all, the billionairess remains frank about her lavish lifestyle:
'I'm not going to not live in a certain way because there are people less fortunate than I am.'
Two of the world's most expensive homes, Hermes Birkin bags, a private Black Eyed Peas performance and now, the glamorous spotlight of LA life: Ms Ecclestone certainly seems to put her money where her mouth is.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/a...hes-just-hard-working-girl.html#ixzz1TYIGPtR6
In an interview with ABC's Good Morning America, Petra Ecclestone - who has well and truly cemented her high-roller status by buying Candy Spelling's former LA home - insists that she is not spoilt, just privileged. And there is, she says, a big difference between the two.
Guardedly revealing what made her fall for the $85million mansion, and what others may think of the London girl for doing so, the younger daughter of Formula 1 racing mogul, Bernie Ecclestone, spoke to ABC News in London.
GMA asked the blonde: 'People are going to look...mainly with envy, scorn, disdain perhaps. Why did you do this? Why did you buy this house?'
'Firstly, it was a great investment. I got a really good deal, and it's kind of like prime real estate.'
That's one way of putting it, Ms Ecclestone.
The new Ecclestone pad is America's most expensive home. The largest family home in LA - which Ms Ecclestone bought in cash for a cool $65million less than the original asking price of $150m- is known locally as 'Candyland' and sits in six acres of groomed lawns.
She says it's a great investment. According to GMA, the home has 14 bedrooms, a bowling alley, a swimming pool, tennis court, a gift wrapping room, a flower cutting room, a 100 car garage, a kitchen bigger than many restaurants' and, at 57,000 square feet, is bigger than the White House.
Ms Ecclestone reportedly borrowed $82.4million from her Croatian mother, former Armani model, Slavica, to purchase the pile. (mummy, can I borrow a few quid pleeeese?)
'I'm planning to move to LA. I wanted to have an amazing home. Hopefully in the future I'll be raising a family... and my family from London will be coming to visit,' she says with a laugh, 'so I need loads of space.'
Welcome to my humble abode: The 57,000 square-foot mansion has a grand entrance hall and sweeping staircases - where to from here for the 22-year-old?
Her family may indeed come with some baggage. Besides the fact that Ms Ecclestone is a self-confessed shoe and handbag girl - 'I love accessories. I'm a girl. I love shoes. I love handbags,' she told GMA, her older sister Tamara, 27, was recently snapped taking a helicopter to the shops in Monaco.
Although the former model and hopeful fashion designer says she collects art, she also admits to owning 'a few' Hermes Birkin bags, costing up to $65,000 each.
It's perhaps not hard to see why Petra and Tamara have been compared to other heiresses, the Hilton and the Kardashian sisters.
Applauding Paris Hilton's business sense - 'She's, like, a really clever businesswoman' - Ms Ecclestone's clearly not one to miss a 'good deal', either.
Dynasty: Bernie Ecclestone with his heiress daughters, Petra and Tamara. Working since 15, 80-year-old Bernie is now reportedly worth $2.5 billion
'It really was a great investment. ... I've got a house in London and I just kind of buy prime real estate that I know hopefully won't go down in value.' she told GMA.
Ms Ecclestone already owns a Georgian house in Chelsea (London) that is valued at $90million. Candyland pushes her real estate portfolio of personal-use homes to over $175million.
'When you bought that home, did it cross your mind that you could have built affordable housing for a thousand families?' asked GMA.
'I help as much as I can, but at the end of the day, however much the house has cost, that's not going to, I don't know, like, change the world,' she said.
'I'm a hard-working girl. I go to the office. I work a normal 9 to 5 job most days,' said Ms Ecclestone, who is soon to delve into the business world by launching a handbag range, Stark.
'My mum came from such humble beginnings and especially my dad as well. He didn't go to university,' she said. 'He kind of worked up from the age of 15 and now he's nearly 80 and he's still working hard. He doesn't need to work.'
'I'm not spoilt. I'm privileged. And I think there's a big difference.'
Ms Ecclestone, who grew up in London, plans to move to LA after marrying businessman beau Jamie Stunt, 26, on August bank holiday.
Her father, who is worth a reported £2.5billion, will fly 300 guests to Italy to mark her marriage to the businessman.
HOW THE PILE STACKS UP
14 bedrooms
57,000 square feet
Garage for 100 cars
Tennis Court
Pool
Two-lane bowling alley
Flower cutting room
Gift wrapping room
Six acres of lawns
Too many bathrooms to count
The couple have asked for no gifts, instead encouraging guests to donate to the Meningitis Trust. Ms Ecclestone contracted the illness as a child and now acts as an Ambassador and spokesperson for the charity.
Following in the footsteps of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, the couple will marry in 13th Century Odescalchi Castle near Rome, where Ms Ecclestone says the wedding will be 'as low key as I can be - I try.'
Given that Rihanna played at the couple's engagement party in May - and the Black Eyed Peas are rumoured to be performing at the wedding party for a mere $1million fee- we're clearly not talking about a shoestring wedding.
After all, the billionairess remains frank about her lavish lifestyle:
'I'm not going to not live in a certain way because there are people less fortunate than I am.'
Two of the world's most expensive homes, Hermes Birkin bags, a private Black Eyed Peas performance and now, the glamorous spotlight of LA life: Ms Ecclestone certainly seems to put her money where her mouth is.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/a...hes-just-hard-working-girl.html#ixzz1TYIGPtR6
