Author: Aoife Moriarty





The children of the wealthy are often tarred with the same brush. They are ‘spoiled’, ‘ungrateful’ and wouldn’t know a hard day’s work ‘if it hit them on the head’.

While we admit this can be the case, it doesn’t mean they are not capable of altruism either. Take one Daria Radionova, a rather glamorous young Russian who has been studying business and management at a London university.

This week, the 21-year-old put her silver C-class Mercedes – covered in one million Swarovski crystals – up for auction on AutoTrader.

With an asking price of £125,000, you’d expect that to fund rather a lot of Louis Vuitton handbags for the graduate. However Miss Radionova instead plans to donate the money to Manchester Dogs’ Home, where 60 dogs were killed last month in a devastating fire.

Speaking to The Tab, she explained: ‘I want to raise money for the homeless animal shelter in the UK that was burned a few weeks ago, the one in Manchester. I cannot stay away from that situation. I’m planning to also give money to a charity in Moldova, where my family is now.’

The car received an inordinate amount of attention outside the Levin Hotel in Knightsbridge last Thursday, turning its owner into a minor celebrity. However – despite telling The Daily Mail she was ‘really happy with it’ and ‘looking forward to driving it around’ – she is now parting ways with the flashy 21st birthday present.

Fear not though, the young millionaire should soon be happily back on yachts stroking jungle cats, if her Instagram feed is anything to go by.