French race car driver Alain Prost has lived in Switzerland since 1983. Nicknamed The Professor by his admirers, this four-time Formula 1 World Champion has won 51 out of the 199 races he has competed in over the last 13 years. Born in 1955, Alain quickly climbed the ranks of race car driver hierarchy and made his Formula 1 debut in 1980. Right from the first season, he ranked amongst the top ten and quickly provided stiff competition for the likes of Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell.

Drawn by Switzerland's reasonable taxation, he moved in 1983 to Yens sur Morges in the Lake Geneva Arc, like many other Formula 1 drivers such as Michael Schumacher. He bought an old farm that he renovated into an luxurious home with a dozen rooms, a swimming pool with built-in bar and a helicopter landing pad. The automobile racer explains why his choice leaned towards Switzerland: "It's a safe and peaceful country that offers a rare quality of living and where private life is respected perhaps more than anywhere else."

After taking his retirement from sports, Alain Prost bought the Ligier racing team, renamed it after himself, and joined forces with the manufacturer Peugeot. He now acts as head of the racing team and has set up office in Geneva, not far from his home. In early 2000, Alain Prost moved to Nyon, on the shores of Lake Geneva, 20 kilometers from the city of Geneva. He also has second homes in Paris, Méribel and Biarritz.