Scottish tycoon gives up half his fortune in ‘happiest divorce ever’

THE Scottish banker who became one of Britain’s richest individuals has agreed a reported £150m settlement with his wife in what they have described as the “happiest divorce ever”.

Roger Jenkins, who represented Scotland as a sprinter at the Commonwealth Games before embarking on a lucrative banking career, is worth an estimated £300 million and has now reportedly handed half to his Bosnian-born ex-wife Diana.

Notoriously private, Mr Jenkins was caught in the limelight for the first time on nearl;y four decades when he stepped out with supermodel Elle Macpherson for the first time earlier this year.

The Jenkins who separated three years ago, have now divorced without a court fight and are said to have remained the “best of friends”.

Diana Jenkins is reportedly “thrilled” at her ex-husband’s new relationship.

Mr Jenkins was worth £272 million and ranked 290 on this year’s Sunday Times Rich List. His wife is now listed at 457.

Mr Jenkins, 56, and Macpherson, 48, were first seen together in public at the high-profile White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington DC earlier this year.

The man known as Roger the Dodger and the King of the Double Dip and the woman known as The Body were also recently photographed in Ibiza on holiday.

Mr Jenkins, whose father was a manager at Grangemouth oil refinery, moved to Edinburgh as a boy and was a pupil at The Edinburgh Academy. He studied at Heriot-Watt University.

He made his fortune as a tax expert at Barclays Bank and now sits on the board of Brazilian bank BTG Pactual, splitting his time between Sao Paulo and North America.

His brother David is a former European 400m champion and the pair teamed up for Scotland in the 4 x 400m relay at the 1978 Commonwealth Games. But David later admitted taking performance-enhancing drugs and was jailed for trafficking in the US. He now lives in San Diego, where he built a successful career in sports nutrition products.

Yesterday it was reported that Mr Jenkins told friends: “I love Diana and have such admiration for her as a mother, businesswoman and someone who was brilliant as a wife.

“We have moved on and are supremely happy with the arrangements we have in our lives. Diana will always be a very happy part of my life.”

The Jenkins have two children from their 10-year marriage and divided their property portfolio, including a £25 million clifftop estate overlooking Malibu beach. Former Bosnian refugee Diana, 37, is said to live in the main house with the children, while Mr Jenkins has an adjoining house.

The now former Mrs Jenkins is a successful businesswoman as chairwoman of lucrative drinks brand Neuro Brands, and she told friends she is delighted with the amicable divorce.

She reportedly said: “All is great, life is good, Roger is wonderful – class all the way to the end. He is and always will be my best friend. He is the father of my children and I will always love him.”

A friend continued: “They say they have the happiest divorce ever, and they do. Everybody’s super-happy. Diana is thrilled that Roger has found happiness with Elle; we all thought she’d be cut up about it, but she’s delighted.

“She really likes Elle and wants Roger to be happy. He seems to be, and the relationship is very serious. Diana has been telling people that it’s great and she has a great settlement and she’s delighted.”