ONE of Britain's richest men has bailed out the businessman involved in the country's biggest divorce case by paying £80,000 towards his estranged wife's luxury apartment, a court has heard.

Topshop tycoon Sir Philip Green intervened to help his friend Scot Young, 51, who is originally from Dundee, the High Court in London heard yesterday.

Mr Young, who was worth an estimated £400 million, but now claims to be penniless, is disputing claims by his wife Michelle, 49, that he is hiding the proceeds of his property empire to deny her a huge cash settlement.

Mrs Young has demanded £300m, maintaining her husband is worth "a few billion at least".

Giving evidence yesterday, Sir Philip said he loaned Mr Young £80,000 towards the cost of the rent and part of a deposit on his wife's Regent's Park apartment in London in late 2008.

Sir Philip Green told Mr Justice Moor that he had no idea how wealthy property dealer Scot Young had been.

He told the court: "I made two payments to an estate agent of £50,000 and £30,000, I believe to pay some rent. I was providing the money to Scot Young, who paid it to his other half Mrs Young, as a favour."

Rex Howling, QC, for Michelle Young, asked whether Sir Philip and others had stopped providing Mrs Young with financial support because they were "disgusted" she had talked to the press.

Sir Philip replied: "I have no idea. I have known Scot Young for ten or 15 years.

'I was not in a business relationship with him. I believe my family were offered an investment, among many other people, and I think we made an investment in that company.'

Mr Howling asked the businessman: "What was your impression of Mr Young's wealth, prior to his 'demise' as he puts it, in March 2006?'

Sir Philip, who is chief ­executive of the Arcadia group which includes Topshop, BHS and Dorothy Perkins and is himself worth an estimated £3.3 billion, replied that he had no idea.

He added: "I am assuming he was doing business. He was comfortable."

Asked if Mr Young was 'a man of substance', Sir Philip replied: "No idea."

Another high-profile businessman also revealed in a sworn ­affidavit he had loaned Mr Young, his friend for many years, £50,000 four years ago.

Richard Caring, a billionaire stakeholder who owns the Soho House chain of hotels and leading nightclubs in London, said in the legal document: "The reason I lent Mr Young this money is that I have know him for many years and he explained his financial position to me and explained the problems he was having.

"I decided to help him and his family."

He had known Mr Young 'in excess of 20 years', the court heard.

He commented: "'I don't really expect Scot to repay me the money. The least I could do was try and help him in some way.'

Mr Caring denied cutting off the finance after deciding Michelle Young was 'trying to embarrass them [Mr Young's friends] in the press'.

Mr Young was jailed for three months earlier this year after he refused to reveal information about his finances.

He was found in contempt of court in what Mr Justice Moor described as "flagrant and deliberate" disobedience.

The Youngs met in 1986 and have two daughters together but separated in 2006.

Mrs Young says she wants her fair share of her husband's money and would settle for £300m, plus legal expenses.

She wants a £25m house and wants to live in Belgravia, central London.

Barrister Rex Howling, QC, accused Mr Young of "lying" about his involvement in a particular firm, which he denied.

Last week, in court, Mr Young told the judge he was thoroughly offended" after being described during the proceedings by Mr Howling as a liar.

Their bitter divorce ­proceedings have continued for several years.

The hearing continues.