LONDON SEPT 29 2009-To most mere mortals buying a millionaire mansion in the beautiful setting of Hampstead London would be a dream come true however for one billionaire buying a 12.5 million home in Hampstead was a mistake.

Actor, producer and entrepreneur Alki David  41, is the billionaire heir to a shipping and bottle-plant fortune and is ranked No 40 on The Rich List. In 2008 he bought a luxury home a seven-bedroom property in Hampstead for £12.5million.

However the desire to live in Hampstead was short lived after he admits that his wife was the main driver behind the decision 'It was a mistake buying that property,' he adds. 'I went along with Emma's idea of moving to the suburbs' - a description of Hampstead that would leave most wealthy locals aghast - 'but a few weeks after we arrived, I realised I didn't want to live there.'

 He now he wants to sell, as soon as he has persuaded his second wife Emma, 30, to leave. The couple, who had been together for five years, have decided to divorce after two years of marriage.

'We seem to have grown apart,' says Alki. 'It's better to face the truth than struggle on regardless, so we separated.

The average house prices in Hampstead London

• Detached house £ 4,785,636
• Semi Detached £2,053,100
• Terraced £1,482,349
• Flat £1,179,861

The house in Hampstead has 8,000sq ft of accommodation, separate staff quarters on the lower-ground floor and a 130ft garden, double garage and off-street parking.

Alki has spent £350,000 on new bathrooms, kitchens and floors as well as re plumbing and redecorating throughout.

Grant Alexson, head of the Hampstead office of Knight Frank, says the house is among the top five properties in one of the three best roads in Hampstead.

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© Housing Market News by The Little House Company

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