George Soros' Ex, Brazilian Actress Adriana Ferreyr, Sues for $50 M; Claims Billionaire Hit Her, Didn't Give Manhattan Apartment
Woman 28 years Soros' junior claims he reneged on gift of Manhattan apartment.
Aug. 12, 2011 — -- A 28-year-old former Brazilian soap opera actress is suing her billionaire ex-lover, George Soros, for $50 million, claiming the 80-year-old financier reneged on a promise to give her a Manhattan apartment.
The lawsuit filed by Adriana Ferreyr also claims an argument over a $2-million apartment escalated into physical abuse.
"They were lying in bed when ... Soros bluntly informed her that he had given the apartment to another woman and an argument ensued," the lawsuit states, continuing: "Soros slapped Ferreyr across the face and proceeded to put his hands around her neck in (an) attempt to choke her."
Soros denies the allegations.
In a police report, Ferreyr alleged Soros attempted to hit her with a lamp. Ferreyr says she became extremely traumatized. She claims they later made up but he reneged a second time on a promise to buy her an apartment.
Speaking of the lawsuit, her attorney Robert Hantman said:
"Some people are going to look at this lawsuit and say $50 million … give me a break, what do you say to that? There's the fraud, the intentional infliction of emotional distress … quite frankly this is the last thing she wanted to be involved in … we were hoping it would be resolved."
Soros is a philanthropist who gives away $800 million a year to charity. He is a major contributor to liberal and democratic causes.
Soros' attorney, William Zabel, told ABC News that the lawsuit was an "attempt to extract money from my client who is known to be a very wealthy man. Police investigated the August 2010 incident and concluded that no assault occurred."
William Beslow, a legal expert not connected with the case, weighed in on suit.
"Husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends breaking promises, sure people's feelings are hurt but you can't sue for that," he said.
"Soros' camp tells me that she's a gold-digger," Ferreyr's attorney, Hantman, said. "I'm not surprised by what they said. Is Adriana a gold-digger? This is not a typical party girl, this is not someone who runs around from person to person … she was committed to him."