‘MODESTA HAS HER OWN WAY OF MANAGING WILLIAM AND SHE'S THE BOSS!'

BILLIONAIRE PHILANTHROPIST JOHN CAUDWELL AND HIS PARTNER MODESTA EXCLUSIVELY INTRODUCE THEIR FIRST CHILD TO OK! AND REVEAL HOW THEIR BOY HAS BRIGHTENED UP A TOUGH SIX MONTHS

- GEMMA McCARTNEY

It’s not every day you get invited into a billionaire’s home – but friends of OK! John Caudwell and his partner Modesta Vžesniauskaite always make us feel welcome.

And as we walk into their 45,000-square-foot Mayfair mansion, the former Phones 4 U owner and Olympic cyclist introduce us to their first child together, William John Caudwell, who arrived in March.

“I think he might take after me because he doesn’t need lots of sleep but has endless energy,” John, 69, tells us.

But despite having a lot to celebrate this year, John and Modesta have also had some turmoil since welcoming adorable William in Monaco. The family was hit by Covid and just as John was getting back to full health, he had a cycling accident that left him “badly smashed up” with a punctured lung, 12 displaced fractures in his left shoulder and ribcage, and concussion.

After spending time in an Italian hospital – which he describes as “barbarian” – he was flown to a hospital in Monaco so that he could see his family and be better cared for. When he was stable enough a few weeks later, he returned to the UK.

“Of all of the other 100 fractures I’ve had, including a broken back and broken neck, I’ve never suffered pain like this. It was extraordinary,” says John, who has broken his back and neck several times over the years.