Mikhail Prokhorov, Russia’s richest man, said he never planned to buy what was billed last year as the world’s most expensive house, a French Riviera villa owned by Lily Safra, the widow of deceased banker Edmond Safra.

Prokhorov, according to the Moscow Times, said: "There was and is no deal" to buy Villa Leopolda. He added: "These are the games of realtors on the Cote d'Azur."