McDonald's heir attacked and robbed of £250,000 in his home

Robbery: McDonald's heir Geoffrey McDonald was bashed and robbed in his home in the south of France

The heir to the the McDonald's fast food empire has been violently attacked and robbed of £250,000 at his villa in the south of France.

Geoffrey McDonald, 60, was left 'severely shocked' after the burglary at his sprawling eight-bedroom home in picturesque Eygalieres, near Avignon.



Hollywood stars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie recently bought a £10million chateau in the same village - one of the most sought-after locations in Provence.

The robbers, said to have been armed with baseball bats, broke into Mr McDonald's home on the night of June 18, police have revealed.

They lay in wait for the couple, and attacked Mr McDonald and his wife when they returned home after a night out.

They then fled with more than 300,000 euros, jewellery and passports.

The couple's lawyer Gilles-Jean Portejoie said: 'Mr McDonald was violently beaten in the assault which left him and his wife severely shocked.'


Local judicial officials said it was the latest in a string of robberies targeting wealthy residents in the region.

Christian Pasta, public prosecutor in the nearby town of Tarascon, said: 'There have been a string of at least ten robberies in the area this year.

'We suspect there is an organised gang or robbers targeting wealthy homeowners and have an ongoing investigation to bring them to justice.'

Mr McDonald and his wife had given statements to the police and returned to their home in the US, he added.