Tycoon Scot Young's millions still missing four years after fatal plunge

Noelle Reno and Scot Young (Richard Young/REX/Shutterstock)

INVESTIGATORS probing the affairs of a multi-millionaire who died in mysterious fall after a bitter divorce battle have still not found a single bank account in his name.

Scot Young, 52, died in 2014 after plunging on to railings from a townhouse balcony in London.

The Dundonian and his estranged wife, Michelle, had been involved in a £400 million divorce battle, the longest in British legal history, before his death.

Michelle, mother to his two children and who was eventually awarded £26 million in a settlement, will appear in a BBC documentary on Wednesday where she will tell how she is still searching for her slice of Scot’s missing millions.

Investigators probed his finances in the years following his death, but drew a blank.

During the divorce proceedings, Scot was jailed for six months for refusing to disclose his finances to the courts and pay maintenance to Michelle.

He eventually declared himself bankrupt, which was overseen by London-based accountancy firm Grant Thornton.

Michelle, a former fashion buyer, now lives in a two-bedroom flat in London.

Now, as well as casting doubt on whether she will ever get a penny, one of her key advisors has also questioned Grant Thornton’s involvement in the case.

International asset recovery specialist L. Burke Files, who is based in the US, said: “Scot was meticulous in all his business dealings.

“Where did all the money go? We might never know.

“But I doubt he lost it. He was very clever.

“At no time during the divorce or up to his death was there ever any evidence that he had a bank account with his name on it.

“Neither the receivers Grant Thornton nor Michelle’s other investigators ever found an account.”

In his prime the tycoon – son of former Dundee United footballer Duncan Young – was said to be worth £800m.

Michelle has also given an interview where she claims Scot didn’t jump to his death but was murdered.

The couple separated in 2006.

A general view of Montagu Square, Marylebone, London, after bankrupt tycoon Scot Young, who was sent to prison during a vitriolic and very public divorce row, died after reportedly falling on to railings at the upmarket London property. (Louisa Collins-Marsh/PA Wire)

Three years later, a judge ordered Scot to hand over £27,500 a month.

In 2013, his estranged wife said she would settle for £300 million claiming Scot was worth “a few billion at least”.

She was eventually awarded £27 million.

Scot’s death just months later has been likened to a plot from BBC series McMafia with links to criminal gangs in Russia where he did much of his work.

He threw himself on to railings from the fourth-floor window of his girlfriend Noella Reno’s home.

But a 2015 inquest into his death found there was insufficient evidence to conclude he took his own life.

A spokesman for Grant Thornton said: “I can confirm that Grant Thornton’s work was both rigorous and thorough, in its role as trustee in the bankruptcy of Mr. Young.”

In the BBC2 documentary this Wednesday, Michelle talks about her former glamorous life and how the last time she spoke to Scot he offered her £30m to “go away”.

The couple once lived in palatial homes in England and Florida, complete with staff including a butler.

But Michelle says she “ended up with nothing – an empty paper bag” following her divorce.

Five weeks before his death, Scot phoned to offer her £30m, which she turned down believing he had more assets hidden.

She continues to pursue them today, saying: “Who says I’ve given up? This isn’t over yet.”