Former supermodel Linda Evangelista clashed in court with French tycoon François-Henri Pinault over child support for her son fathered by the Gallic tycoon, one of France’s wealthiest men.

In what could be one of the most expensive child support cases ever, Ms Evangelista wants €35,000 a month for five-year-old Augustin, including a bodyguard, a driver and a 24-hour nanny, according to a list by Mr Pinault’s lawyers.

Ms Evangelista’s attorney William Beslow disputed the amount, but gave no figure for how much the Canadian ex-model is seeking to support “Augie” from the billionaire Mr Pinault.

Dressed in dark glasses and Louboutin high heels, Ms Evangelista arrived 15 minutes late for the hearing in a Manhattan family court, before the 49-year-old Frenchman took the stand first.

Mr Pinault, who heads the PPR luxury goods conglomerate whose brands include Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, and is now married to actress Salma Hayek, testified for more than an hour, and was pressed at length about his “incredible” wealth.

Mr Beslow had the French businessman describe his many businesses, positions, homes and luxury holidays spent with his three other children but never with Augustin, who was born in October 2006.

Mr Pinault said he had known the formermodel for four months and they had only spent seven days together, when she announced she was pregnant in early 2006.

“I asked Linda what were her intentions with the pregnancy. I did not know her very well,” he said, avoiding looking at Ms Evangelista.

“She told me if I didn’t want to be involved to raise that kid, she would understand and she would take care of the kid ... I was not involved in the decision of having the baby.”

Conceding that he broke off their relationship, Mr Pinault added: “I told her I would recognise the baby, which I did. I would take my responsibility and I did just that.”

The businessman acknowledged that he had not paid any child support for Augustin, but said he was the first one to raise the issue in 2007.