Key facts
- Viral rumors about a homeless man occupying a 210-million-pound London mansion tied to Evergrande's founder's ex-wife have been debunked.
- Sources confirmed the man had only camped on the property's porch.
- The mansion is located at 2-8a Rutland Gate and is considered one of the most expensive homes in Britain.
- The property was reportedly sold for over £205 million (around $227 million) in 2020, with some reports linking it to Cheung Chung-kiu and Evergrande founder Hui Ka Yan.
Viral rumors claiming a homeless man had "occupied" a 210-million-pound ($278 million) London mansion tied to the ex-wife of China Evergrande Group’s founder have been debunked. Sources familiar with the matter informed Caixin that the man had merely camped on the property's porch, countering speculation on Chinese internet forums that he could claim ownership under U.K. adverse possession law.
The property, located at 2-8a Rutland Gate and described as a "private palace" overlooking Hyde Park, is considered one of the most expensive homes ever sold in Britain. Reports from 2022 indicated it was put up for sale again after being sold for over £205 million (around $227 million) in 2020. The Financial Times cited sources suggesting the property is actually owned by Evergrande founder Hui Ka Yan, despite Land Registry documents showing a British Virgin Islands company, Vision Perfect Global Ltd, as the buyer. Hui's wife, Ding Yumei, was reportedly linked to a related company where two executives from Cheung Chung-kiu's CC Land were directors. Cheung is a close business partner of Hui, with CC Land selling projects to Evergrande in China. Hui Ka Yan has experienced a significant decline in his net worth, reportedly shrinking by 83% since July 2020, amid Evergrande's $300 billion loan default. His net worth has fallen from approximately $31 billion in January 2020 to $6 billion, forcing him to sell assets, including the London home, to address company debts.