Introduction
Slavica Radić (born 2 June 1958) is a model, and the ex-wife of former Formula One CEO Bernie Ecclestone.
Early life
Ecclestone was born in Rijeka, PR Croatia, FPR Yugoslavia where her Serbian parents — Jovo Radić and Ljubica Malić from Maglajani and Riječani, respectively, both villages within the Laktaši municipality, PR Bosnia-Herzegovina — had settled shortly before her birth in search of expanded job opportunities. The family soon moved back to northern Bosnia to her father's village, meaning Slavica would spend the majority of her childhood in Maglajani. After her parents divorced when she was seven years old, being raised by her mother Ljubica, Slavica was taught to "not do to someone else what you wouldn't want to be done to yourself."
Career
In her early career, Slavica worked as a fashion model, modelling for a number of clients, including the designer Armani. While working on a Formula One promotional event for Armani at the 1982 Italian Grand Prix in Monza, the twenty-four-year-old model met fifty-two-year-old Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone.
Bernie pursued Slavica despite the 28-year age difference, the language barrier (she spoke Serbo-Croatian and Italian, he spoke only English), and their difference in height. At 6 feet 1 inches (1.86 m), Slavica was nearly a foot taller than her suitor, Ecclestone being 5 ft 2½ in (1.59 m) tall.
Personal life
From her marriage, Slavica has two daughters, Tamara (1984) and Petra (1988).
In November 2008 Slavica filed for divorce after 23 years of marriage. The divorce was granted on 11 March 2009. She topped the Sunday Times’ Rich List in the "richest divorcees" category after she was awarded an estimated £740 million.