Rayo Withanage, an influential financier and advisor, has transferred ownership of Pablo Picasso’s final home, Château de Vie, to a new consortium of investors led by famed attorney William Beslow. Château De Vie is widely regarded as one of the most important estates in the Côte d’Azur and the most successful art production house in recent history.
Withanage has transferred ownership of his personal home of 10 years to a group of investors led by prominent New York lawyer Willaim Beslow. Mr. Beslow is one of the world’s leading litigators, representing clients such as Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Harvey Keitel, Demi Moore, Linda Evangelista and Nicole Kidman. Château de Vie will begin a new chapter, producing creative work in art, music, film, and television. Château de Vie embraces a new art production model, establishing a design and production team that will collaborate with artists and creatives to co-produce content. Château de Vie has been funded to bring back active creative production of global relevance to the Côte d’Azur.
Early Influences and Diverse Beginnings
Rayo Withanage’s story is as colorful as the paintings of the late Picasso. With diverse cultural and professional experiences, the son of Sri Lankan and Portuguese immigrants grew up in Bermuda, New Zealand, and the sultanate of Brunei. These experiences, coupled with his father’s background in finance, instilled in him a global perspective from a young age. His journey into the business world began as a lawyer, and then swiftly moved into private equity. By leveraging his knowledge and his upbringing, he was able to successfully manage a firm with over $12 billion under management in his early thirties.
The Most Successful Creative Production House In History
Château de Vie, once the vibrant home of Picasso, is steeped in history and artistic legacy. In the early 20th century, the estate was owned by Benjamin and Bridget Guinness. During their time at Château de Vie, they hosted many friends including Winston Churchill, who often painted in the gardens, and Pablo Picasso, who fell in love with the estate and bought it for his wife. Château de Vie was a haven for Picasso, where he created some of his most significant works. More than €4 billion worth of art was created at the estate, making it one of the most successful art production houses in the world.
Enabling The Future While Honoring The Past
For Withanage, the transfer of Château de Vie is a representation of his own commitment to building a new future after a protracted divorce that brought his legacy businesses to a pause. Following a comment on him being described by Euromoney as “one of the most influential financiers in the Middle East and Asia”, Rayo was very quick to point to the future. “I’m focused on the future, not the past. I am excited to do new, more impactful things in the years to come.”
To that end, Château de Vie is harnessing over €350M in assets to write a new chapter that simultaneously honors Picasso’s legacy while being rooted in Virtue Capitalism, a concept that intertwines ethical practices with business success. Central to this ethos is the belief that art and content produced at Château De Vie should enrich our lives in a spiritual sense but also have the potential to make real, material impact and effect change. The estate’s new creative program will be announced in the Spring.