A Russian oligarch whose ex-wife was spotted canoodling with Tom Cruise has warned the Mission Impossible star he should be prepared to ‘keep his wallet wide open’ – because she has ‘expensive and luxurious tastes’.
Cruise, 61, was seen getting cosy with socialite Elsina Khayrova, 36, at a party in London’s Mayfair on Saturday – with friends saying the Hollywood A lister is ‘besotted’ with her and that the pair are ‘inseparable’.
But Ms Khayrova ex-husband Dmitry Tsetkov warned Cruise that his new love interest is difficult to please – and claims he spent an astonishing £10million on clothes and another £2million on handbags during their tumultuous 11-year marriage.
Speaking exclusively to from his £27million Surrey mansion, tycoon Mr Tsetkov said: ‘Irrespective of whoever she’s with, Tom Cruise or anybody else, they should be aware that she likes the finer things in life and has expensive and luxurious taste. Tom should keep his eyes and wallet wide open.’
But, he added: ‘I’m happy for her, I wish her all the best.’
Mr Tsetkov, 43, who made his fortune in diamonds and mining, claims that his acrimonious three-year divorce battle cost him £150million.
Dmitry Tsetkov warned Cruise that his new love interest is difficult to please – and claims he spent £10million on clothes and another £2million on handbags during their tumultuous 11-year marriage
Cruise was seen getting cosy with socialite Elsina Khayrova, 36, at a party in London ‘s Mayfair on Saturday
Tom Cruise, 61, was spotted canoodling at a party in London ‘s Mayfair with a Russian socialite
Mr Tsetkov, 43, who made his fortune in diamonds and mining, claims that his acrimonious three-year divorce battle cost him £150million
He says he watched his fortune dwindle from £200million while he was with his wife to just £50million afterwards as he was forced to sell off his assets to pay legal fees or hand them over to his wife.
Ms Khayrova was even awarded the contents of her expensively assembled wardrobes with designer labels and handbags, all of which she received as part of the divorce settlement.
The handbags ranged in price from £5,000 to £35,000 each with Ms Khayrova famously hitting the headlines during their divorce battle after claims that she hid them along with other assets from her ex-husband.
Mr Tsetkov revealed that he has not spoken to Ms Khayrova’s about her relationship with Cruise, who also happens to be his favourite actor.
He said: ‘I haven’t spoken with Elsina about this because our preferred method of communication is through our lawyers. She’s 36, she’s beautiful, financially independent and loves life.
‘Tom Cruise is my favourite actor, he’s one of the best I have ever seen. I have watched a lot of his movies. I first heard about him when I was 13 from my English teacher who came back from the US and told us that she lived next door to him.’
Ironically, Mr Tsetkov, who is on the Kremlin’s most wanted list, revealed that only three months ago he was in talks with a Hollywood producer interested in making a film about his life and he insisted that he only wanted Cruise to play him.
He said: ‘I told the producer that the only actor who could play me is Tom Cruise. We’re about the same height and weight and I would be honoured if that could happen. I couldn’t think of anyone better to play me than Tom. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to meet him one day to discuss this project.’
Mr Tsetkov revealed that his favourite Tom Cruise film is ‘Eyes Wide Shut,’ which he has seen around 30 times. In it, the Hollywood star plays a doctor whose life spirals out of control as he becomes obsessed with having a sexual encounter.
Mr Tsetkov revealed that he has not spoken to Ms Khayrova’s about her relationship with Cruise, who also happens to be his favourite actor
Ms Khayrova, 36, is the daughter of a prominent Russian MP and ex-wife of a diamond-trading oligarch
Cruise was seen canoodling at a party in London ‘s Mayfair with the Russian socialite
Cruise starred in the 2010 hit opposite Nicole Kidman, who he was married to at the time.
Mr Tsetkov said: ‘I also love Rainman and The Firm and know a lot of the dialogue of that one off by heart. But Elsina didn’t know about any of these films because she’s never been a big Tom Cruise fan. I’m sure all that has changed now.’
Ms Khayrova and Cruise were spotted over the weekend at a party in Grosvenor Square together, much to the surprise and excitement of the other guests.
Clad in a strapless black dress with a diamanté bow, she posed for pictures with Aliena Avramenko, a former Miss Europe contestant, before hitting the dance floor with her Top Gun star plus-one. Cruise and Ms Khayrova reportedly left the event together in the early hours.
One guest claimed: ‘They were inseparable, clearly a couple. He seemed to be besotted with her.’
Tycoon Mr Tsetkov met his future wife at an exclusive bar in London’s Mayfair in April 2009 and following a whirl wind romance, married in September of the same year in The National Congress Palace in St Petersburg, which is used as a residence by Vladimir Putin when he is in the city.
They enjoyed a lavish, jet set lifestyle owning properties in Dubai, London and Cyprus, spending time on luxury yachts and enjoying luxury holidays while owning a car, jewellery and art collection worth several million pounds.
The businessman bought the marital home on the exclusive Wentworth estate in Surrey in 2020 as a weekend getaway from the £18million London home he shared with his former wife and their two children before the split.
Unlike her, he said that he has not met anyone else and spends most of his day playing polo, golf or tennis and going shooting.
He insisted: ‘I feel and look ten years younger and have never felt better. Life is great at the moment. Who says that divorce is bad for you, no matter how much it costs?’
has contacted Elsina Khayrova for comment.