Duke of Westminster forced to make £700m decision over 340-year-old family empire

Duke of Westminster and billionaire Hugh Grosvenor is on the verge of a £700 million sale after inheriting a more than 340-year-old family empire. The 35-year-old 7th Duke of Westminster’s property company, the Grosvenor Group, is reportedly looking to sell its US real estate assets worth millions according to multiple outlets. 

The company’s chief executive James Raynor said that the real estate portfolio will be sold “over a period of time”, as per Bloomberg. According to the reports, the sale comes after the group recorded a loss of £108 million in the North America region last year, with a total revenue loss of £23.2 million worldwide in 2025.

The group’s website lists multiple US properties across Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Washington that are in “well-connected locations that benefit from strong demographic and economic fundamentals”. The company also boasts an impressive London portfolio, with significant property in Mayfair and Belgravia. 

Family empire

The Grosvenor Group roots trace back over three centuries when it was founded in 1677 by Hugh’s ancestor, Sir Thomas Grosvenor, 3rd Baronet. Hugh is the only son of the late Gerald Grosvenor, the 6th Duke of Westminster, and his wife Natalia, who also share three daughters from their 38-year marriage.

When his father died unexpectedly in August 2016 from a heart attack, Hugh inherited the dukedom and control of the historic Grosvenor Estate. He took over the family’s Westminster Foundation and became Chair of the family’s property group. 

The Duke also has a net worth of billions, topping The Sunday Times 40 Under 40 Rich List in 2024 with an impressive fortune of £10.1 billion. 

Lavish wedding

© Getty

Along with his staggering net worth, the Duke made headlines in 2024 for his nuptials to senior account manager Olivia Henson, in what was dubbed the high-society wedding of the year. The couple tied the knot at Chester Cathedral in front of a high-profile guest list that included the likes of Prince William and Princess Eugenie. 

The bride stunned for the occasion in a gorgeous vintage-style dress by Emma Victoria Payne with a billowing veil. A year on from their wedding, the couple welcomed their first child together, Lady Cosima Florence Grosvenor in July 2025, who will not inherit her father’s title. 

“The dukedom of Westminster can only be passed down the male line, so it currently has no heir. The Duke and Duchess will need to produce a son for the titles to survive. Unless there is a change in the law, Lady Cosima will not inherit her father’s titles,” Wendy Bosberry-Scott, the editor of Debrett’s Peerage and Baronetage, told HELLO!.