Boris Becker: "I can afford a plane ticket and an Oktoberfest visit"
Boris Becker spoke in an interview with Bild am Sonntag about the status of his bankruptcy proceedings.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Oct 13, 2019, 06:55 pm
The insolvency proceedings against the triple Wimbledon champ, which an English bank had instigated, have been going on since summer 2017. As a result, several private creditors, including Becker's former business partner Cleven from Switzerland, also came forward. Some trophies and memorabilia from his active tennis time were also auctioned off as part of the process.
In an interview, Becker spoke of having the "most difficult time" of his life behind him soon. "I don't want to wish my worst enemy what I've seen in the past two years." But Becker made it clear: "I was never broke. I have income and can make a living from it."
Becker now has three options
He had to give 52 percent of his income to the administrator. "I can afford a plane ticket and an Oktoberfest visit. I support all of my children. They go to good schools and universities, which is not cheap," said Becker.
After the bank was paid, he had the reins back in his hand. There are currently three options for how to proceed. Either he will also give 52 percent of his earnings over the next 18 months. Or he can pay off his remaining debts - supposedly less than one million euros - at once. In addition, it is possible that he will agree with his creditors. The latter alternative is his favorite idea. "This is indeed possible this year," said Becker, who once again tried to use a tennis metaphor. "Then the bankruptcy trustee would have won his Wimbledon victory and I would have won too."
Becker today: "Do I even need that?"
The 51-year-old made mistakes in the past. "But maybe it was also necessary for my life because it was cleaning. I made some mistakes in the past. Was too blue-eyed, maybe naive." But: "Today I know what my priorities are." His family had "unconditional" to him, but many "so-called friends" said goodbye.
He can now do without certain luxuries, even if some things are difficult, as Becker admitted. "Today Boris Becker asks himself very often: Do I need that at all? The answer is 'No' in many ways. But I admit: the way from economy to business class is easy, the way back is more difficult. "