Richard Lugner, the Austrian billionaire renowned for his high-profile social life and significant role in Vienna’s construction industry, has died at the age of 91. His passing follows a recent marriage, his sixth, to Simone Reilaender, who was 42 at the time. Lugner’s death occurred early Monday morning at his villa in Doebling, following a severe bout of back pain and exhaustion. Despite the efforts of emergency medical personnel, they were unable to save him.
Lugner gained international attention for his extravagant “dates” with celebrities, including Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton, and Geri Halliwell. His 2014 outing with Kardashian, while she was still with Kanye West, was particularly notable for its conspicuous lack of romantic involvement, likely intended as a high-profile social event.
In recent years, Lugner’s focus shifted from his celebrity escapades to his personal life. He expressed his intention to leave everything to his new wife, 49 years his junior, and had even declared her as the future “sole boss” of his Vienna shopping mall.
Lugner had been dealing with serious health issues, including a ruptured heart valve and a leaking mitral valve, discovered in July. Although it’s not clear if these conditions directly caused his death, Lugner had reportedly been preparing for the inevitable, even ordering his gravestone months prior.
He is survived by his four children and leaves behind a legacy marked by both his business acumen and his colorful personal life.