Austrian billionaire and renowned entrepreneur Richard Lugner has passed away at the age of 91. Lugner, known for hosting numerous celebrities at the prestigious Vienna Opera Ball, died on Monday, August 12, at his villa in Vienna. His passing was confirmed by Agence France-Presse.
Lugner’s eventful life included welcoming high-profile guests like Kim Kardashian, Jane Fonda, Pamela Anderson, and Goldie Hawn to the Opera Ball over the years. Earlier this year, in February, he attended the event with Priscilla Presley, despite facing several health issues. In recent months, Lugner had undergone surgery and was battling multiple health problems.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer was among the first to pay tribute, sharing a heartfelt message on X (formerly Twitter). He posted a photo of himself with Lugner and Presley, honoring Lugner as a “successful entrepreneur and a dazzling personality” and calling him “an Austrian original who never lost his way.” Nehammer concluded his tribute with a wish for Lugner to “rest in peace.”
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Lugner’s legacy is marked by his development of the Lugner City shopping center in Vienna, which opened in 1990. The complex shared a touching tribute to its founder on Facebook, referring to him as “our mortar and above all our beloved boss.” The post expressed the immense grief felt by those who knew him, describing their pain as “indescribably great.” The message, translated from German, reflected on the many cherished moments spent with Lugner and expressed that his memory would remain in their hearts forever.
In addition to his business ventures, Lugner also made two bids for the Austrian presidency, running as an independent candidate in 1998 and again in 2016. His passing comes just two months after he married 42-year-old Simone Reiländer, his sixth wife, at Vienna City Hall on June 1. Lugner had described this marriage as his “last” during their union.
Lugner’s previous marriages included Christine Gmeiner (1961-1978), Cornelia Laufersweiler (1979-1983), Susanne Dietrich (1984-1989), Christina Lugner (1990–2007), and Playboy model and actress Cathy Schmitz (2014-2016). He is survived by his four children: Jacqueline, Nadine, Alexander, and Andreas.
Lugner’s life and career left an indelible mark on Austria, and his legacy will continue to be remembered by those who knew him and admired his accomplishments.