Former French minister and Adidas owner Bernard Tapie and his wife Dominique were beaten and tied up with electrical cords during a midnight burglary on their home in Combs-la-Ville near Paris.

The burglars evaded guards and entered the property via a window, then attacked the couple before stealing two watches, including a Rolex, earrings, bracelets and a ring.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning and police were alerted after Dominique was able to untie herself and make her way to her neighbor's home to call officers to the scene.

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Dominique Tapie suffered bruising to her face after being hit. Bernard Tapie was struck in the head with a golf club. Both avoided serious injury.

The couple's grandson, Rodolphe Tapie, told AFP that his grandmother was "doing well" and said the burglars had "pulled her by the hair because they wanted to know where the treasure was" but were angered to find there wasn't any, which "made the violence worse."

When asked about the health of Bernard Tapie he said: "My grandfather refused to be taken away. He is shattered, very tired. He was sitting on a chair when he was hit with a club."

Tapie was a socialist minister who rose from humble beginnings to build a sporting and media empire, but later ran into a string of legal problems.

He amassed vast wealth at the start of his career by acquiring failing companies, stripping them of their assets and selling them on for big profits.

He was known for flaunting his wealth with lavish purchases such as a 72-meter yacht and a football club, Olympique de Marseille. The club won the Champions League while he was their president but were later relegated from the top division in French football because of match-fixing allegations.