Austrian billionaire Richard Lugner passed away aged 91, two months after tying the knot with his 42-year-old wife.
Born in Vienna on October 11, 1932, the entrepreneur is best known for opening the eponymous Lugner City, the seventh-largest shopping center in Austria, in 1990, and building the Vienna Islamic Centre, Austria’s first and biggest mosque.
He also made headlines for bringing stars such as Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, Jane Fonda, Pamela Anderson, and Goldie Hawn to Vienna’s famous Opera Ball.
According to Agence France-Presse, Lugner – who ran twice in the Austrian presidential elections – died on Monday, August 12, at his villa in the Austrian capital.
His death was announced via a tribute statement shared by the Lugner City shopping center’s Facebook page, which read: “Our Engineer Richard Lugner, our mortar and above all our beloved boss has unfortunately left us today,” as cited by PEOPLE.
“We can hardly put into words the pain we feel,” the message read. “The grief is indescribably great, but we want to reflect on all the beautiful and great times together. With a laughing and a crying eye we say goodbye to the great Richard Lugner, in our hearts he will stay forever!”
Lugner’s cause of death has not yet been revealed.
Lugner’s passing comes two months after he married his 42-year-old wife Simone Reiländer, which marked his sixth marriage. The pair tied the knot at Vienna City Hall on Saturday, June 1.
Speaking to Kurier in April – just a few months before their nuptials – Reiländer said that “everything she wanted in a man was like Richard,” per the outlet.
“A successful man who represents something, who you can cling to, look up to, and learn from,” she gushed. “Men like that are very rare at a younger age these days.”
And after they said their vows, Lugner told the publication: “It was a fantastically beautiful wedding, the speech by the registrar was beautiful, the celebration was beautiful and the bride is beautiful.”
On Monday (August 12), Lugner’s widow took to Instagram to call her late husband – who was almost 50 years older than her – “the dream of her life” under a painting of him.
“And when I saw you shine from the sight of me, I knew I was yours too,” she sweetly penned, adding, “In love.”
The late businessman was reportedly hospitalized after his sixth wedding after experiencing back pain, as reported by The Sun on June 21. At the time, he blamed the injury on his exercise bike.
His health continued to deteriorate as on July 12, he was transported to the Vienna General Hospital due to a ruptured heart valve.
After the health scare, Lugner disclosed that his funeral arrangements had been made and that his tombstone was already ordered. “I wanted to have everything arranged. My heirs should know what to do,” he said, per Page Six.
He said that his 42-year-old wife had taken over his business operations. “My wife wears the pants now. She should support me actively. From now on, we will share my work,” he said, calling her the “sole boss” of his kingdom.
Lugner was previously married to Christine Gmeiner (1961-1978), Cornelia Laufersweiler (1979-1983), Susanne Dietrich (1984-1989), Christina Lugner (1990-2007), as well as Playboy model and actress Cathy Schmitz (2014-2016).
The billionaire, who most recently attended the Opera Ball in February with Priscilla Presley, leaves behind four children: Alexander and Andreas Lugner, from his first marriage, Nadine Jeannine Cutter from his relationship with actress Sonja Jeannine, and Jacqueline Lugner from his fourth marriage.
Featured image credit: Manfred Schmid / Getty
Billionaire, 91, dies 2 months after marrying woman nearly 50 years younger than him
By Asiya Ali
Austrian billionaire Richard Lugner passed away aged 91, two months after tying the knot with his 42-year-old wife.
Born in Vienna on October 11, 1932, the entrepreneur is best known for opening the eponymous Lugner City, the seventh-largest shopping center in Austria, in 1990, and building the Vienna Islamic Centre, Austria’s first and biggest mosque.
He also made headlines for bringing stars such as Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, Jane Fonda, Pamela Anderson, and Goldie Hawn to Vienna’s famous Opera Ball.
According to Agence France-Presse, Lugner – who ran twice in the Austrian presidential elections – died on Monday, August 12, at his villa in the Austrian capital.
His death was announced via a tribute statement shared by the Lugner City shopping center’s Facebook page, which read: “Our Engineer Richard Lugner, our mortar and above all our beloved boss has unfortunately left us today,” as cited by PEOPLE.
“We can hardly put into words the pain we feel,” the message read. “The grief is indescribably great, but we want to reflect on all the beautiful and great times together. With a laughing and a crying eye we say goodbye to the great Richard Lugner, in our hearts he will stay forever!”
Lugner’s cause of death has not yet been revealed.
Lugner’s passing comes two months after he married his 42-year-old wife Simone Reiländer, which marked his sixth marriage. The pair tied the knot at Vienna City Hall on Saturday, June 1.
Speaking to Kurier in April – just a few months before their nuptials – Reiländer said that “everything she wanted in a man was like Richard,” per the outlet.
“A successful man who represents something, who you can cling to, look up to, and learn from,” she gushed. “Men like that are very rare at a younger age these days.”
And after they said their vows, Lugner told the publication: “It was a fantastically beautiful wedding, the speech by the registrar was beautiful, the celebration was beautiful and the bride is beautiful.”
On Monday (August 12), Lugner’s widow took to Instagram to call her late husband – who was almost 50 years older than her – “the dream of her life” under a painting of him.
“And when I saw you shine from the sight of me, I knew I was yours too,” she sweetly penned, adding, “In love.”
The late businessman was reportedly hospitalized after his sixth wedding after experiencing back pain, as reported by The Sun on June 21. At the time, he blamed the injury on his exercise bike.
His health continued to deteriorate as on July 12, he was transported to the Vienna General Hospital due to a ruptured heart valve.
After the health scare, Lugner disclosed that his funeral arrangements had been made and that his tombstone was already ordered. “I wanted to have everything arranged. My heirs should know what to do,” he said, per Page Six.
He said that his 42-year-old wife had taken over his business operations. “My wife wears the pants now. She should support me actively. From now on, we will share my work,” he said, calling her the “sole boss” of his kingdom.
Paris Hilton and Lugner at the Vienna Opera Ball on February 15, 2007. Credit: Johannes Simon / Getty
Lugner was previously married to Christine Gmeiner (1961-1978), Cornelia Laufersweiler (1979-1983), Susanne Dietrich (1984-1989), Christina Lugner (1990-2007), as well as Playboy model and actress Cathy Schmitz (2014-2016).
The billionaire, who most recently attended the Opera Ball in February with Priscilla Presley, leaves behind four children: Alexander and Andreas Lugner, from his first marriage, Nadine Jeannine Cutter from his relationship with actress Sonja Jeannine, and Jacqueline Lugner from his fourth marriage.
