Former F1 Boss Puts Up World’s Millionaires’ Club in Malindi

After holidaying in Malindi in December and instantly falling in love with the sandy white beaches, former Formula One (F1) boss and Italian tycoon, Flavio Briatore has pumped KSh500 million into putting up a luxury resort.

In fact, work on the Sh500 million luxury resort is in its final stages.

On Saturday, the international investor flew into Malindi in his private jet to inspect work on the resort and was driven straight to the construction site.

Later, Mr. Briatore took journalists for a tour and told them the resort would be opened in August. A jovial Mr. Briatore said the casino, one of the resort’s prominent features, and the reception area were complete.

He said 78 per cent of the units have been sold to “very wealthy people who love Malindi”. He said four of them have never been to Kenya, but bought the units “because they trust me”. “From August, we expect high class tourists to begin flocking to Malindi,” he said.

“This is a unique project, which cannot be found anywhere else in Africa. Everything is made to the highest possible standards to suit the kind of guests who will be coming,” he said.

The billionaire said 10 Kenyan employees were undergoing training in Italy.

“The majority of workers will be locals to promote the people of Malindi and Kenya at large,” he said.

This is the seventh time Mr. Briatore is visiting Malindi this year since he began the project after the exclusive Lion in the Sun Resort, in which he lives.

Mr. Briatore came twice with former Italian prime minister and billionaire Silvio Berlusconi this year.

He has also hosted Formula One driver Fernando Alonso and one time girlfriend British supermodel Naomi Campbell.

The Daily Nation