Travers 'The Candyman' Beynon 'sued' by his Free Choice tobacco founder stepfather in $55 million legal battle - as notorious playboy drops off the radar

Daily Mail​

5 hours ago

Notorious Gold Coast playboy Travers 'Candyman' Beynon is being sued by his stepfather Trevor in an explosive multimillion-dollar legal stoush.
Trevor Beynon, 79, is the founder of the Free Choice tobacco store empire, and was married to Travers' mother, Sandra, when the couple founded the cigarette chain.
Now, according to court documents, Trevor is alleging that Travers, 53, used 'sham' documents in an effort to gain more control over the group's assets - which is at odds with what Trevor intended in his will.
The Gold Coast Bulletin recently reported that Trevor ceased his role as director of two 'key' Free Choice companies in March.
Court documents indicate he is now alleging that he was removed from the position against his will.
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The publication reported that documents lodged before the Supreme Court of Brisbane allege that Trevor met with Travers in 2007 to discuss the future of Free Choice Tobacco.
As alleged in those documents, they agreed that Travers would take control of the business on the condition that siblings received a percentage of profits from some of the businesses.
It was also claimed that two years after Sandra Beynon died in 2015, Travers enlisted lawyer Matthew Burgess to draw up documents preventing siblings from challenging Travers to a larger cut of the estate.
They allege in the documents that they, along with accountant Richard Hoult, created estate planning documents which stated Trevor would gift $55 million to one of Travers' companies - Free Choice Master Holdings - and then loan it back.
A separate deed also purported to secure the loan against Trevor's assets, according to the court documents.
According to court filings, it allegedly came to a head in January this year, after Trevor and Travers had a disagreement over the management of Free Choice, which resulted in Travers enforcing the interest repayments on the alleged $55 million loan.
Trevor claimed in the court documents that he had never paid or received the $55 million, alleging the figure was 'made up'.
Trevor also argues the documents had shifted control of his assets to Travers and would prevent his estate from servicing debts after he died.
He alleges that he had never signed documents to allow his shares in free Choice companies to be transferred from his ownership, and that he was removed from company directorships without due process.
Trevor is asking the court to declare the $55 million a gift and the loan declared fake as well as seeking reinstatement as director of Free Choice companies and that his shares be placed back in his hands.
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Travers' lawyer for comment.
Questions started to swirl this week following Travers' apparent internet exit.
The flamboyant businessman was certainly not shy about sharing glimpses of his lavish lifestyle to social media.
His Instagram account, which enticed a million followers to fawn over posts of luxe parties and high-end living, has been apparently deleted.
It's the same story for Travers' Candyshop Mansion website which as been offline since May this year.
His Facebook and TikTok pages are still active, however they have not seen some action in quite some time.
Travers' last post on Facebook was back in April 2023, while his last TikTok post occurred in August 2019.
It's apparently a similar story for the Beynon family tobacco empire with the main Free Choice Tobacco site also currently offline.
While its string of franchise stores are still operating, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported that Free Choice vacated its Gold Coast head office in February, with the space, owned by one of Beynon's companies, now leased to a new business.
It comes amid what appears to be a period of upheaval for Travers with the playboy recently having another crack at offloading his Candyland mansion.
Travers first listed the property back in 2023 and, at one stage, it had an eye-watering $25 million price tag attached
The Gold Coast Bulletin reported in May that Travers had enlisted another agent to give the property the push it needs to get it over the line.
He had engaged the services agents Ivy Wu and Isaac Kim from Ivy Realty to run an expression of interest campaign for the lavish property.
Travers originally purchased the property, located in the northern Gold Coast suburb of Helensvale, in 2010.
He later purchased neighbouring land, effectively tripling the footprint of the compound.
The property sits on a substantial 1.4 acres with 175 metres of private water frontage.
The house itself is set across an expansive 2,230 square-metre floorplan and boasts mosaic murals and hand-painted frescos throughout.
The opulent home, which has hosted many wild parties over the years, sits behind large two-ton crested gates and features a gorgeous sandstone driveway and marble-clad majestic courtyard.
Its highly desirable location is close to a variety of amenities including world renowned Surfers Paradise shopping centres, restaurants and beach.
The listing came after Travers welcomed his fifth child, Santiago, back in June last year.
He took to his Instagram Stories to confirm that he and wife of 14 years Taesha had welcomed a baby boy as he shared sweet snaps of the little one.
Welcome to the world son,' Travers wrote alongside a video of him holding his newborn son's hand.
Travers also shares two daughters Velicia, 12, and Serafina, 11, with his wife Taesha and has two other children - Valentino, 24, and Luciana, 22 - from his previous marriage to Ninibeth Leal.