Richard Mortel Lugner, an Austrian entrepreneur in the construction industry and a former political candidate, passed away on August 12, 2024, leaving behind a staggering net worth of hundreds of millions.
Born in Vienna to a lawyer father, Lugner completed his general school education specializing in building construction, which helped him build the first few years of his professional life at a Viennese building company.
Moreover, he worked on building filling stations through small contracts, which consequently helped him create his brand in the industry.
Farewell, Richard Lugner. @L4ndvogt und ich haben ihn letztes Jahr nochmal in seinem Büro portraitieren dürfen – für @profilonline. https://t.co/1z85fpGYN0 pic.twitter.com/MD48TGGWQh
— Nikolaus Ostermann (@i_koon) August 12, 2024
Soon, Lugner opened his own shopping mall, Lugner City, the seventh-largest center in Austria at the time. In 2005, he constructed Lugner Kino, a cineplex that could accommodate more than 1.5k visitors.
The entrepreneur didn’t stop there, as he started a tradition of inviting celebrities to his shopping center and later taking them to the Vienna Opera Ball before handling the business for his children.
Along with his business, Richard Lugner was affiliated with politics as he ran for presidential elections in 1998 and 2006, contributing much to his net worth of $200 million.
Lugner left his net worth to his sixth wife just two weeks after tying the knot in Vienna!
Lugner had hands in several careers throughout his life, leading to a fulfilled life shared with his wife and children.
Initially, the entrepreneur was married to Christine Gmeiner, with whom he had four children before divorcing her and moving on to actress Sonja Jeannine.
However, his relationship didn’t seem to last long as he got together with Cathy Schmitz, who received monthly financial benefits from Lunger as part of her monthly income.
Im Juni heiratete Richard Lugner noch sein „Bienchen“ Simone. Jetzt muss sie um ihren Ehemann trauern. pic.twitter.com/EVnV0eHHHO
— Arthur Krischke (@StehaufmannWien) August 12, 2024
Later, he announced his engagement to Simone Reilander before hosting a lavish wedding in June 2024.
Apart from his marital problems, Lugner struggled with prostate cancer for several years but later received radiotherapy treatment. The medical team diagnosed Lugner with skin cancer requiring surgery, but the disease persisted, leading to another set of surgeries in 2021.
As Lugner reached 91, he had to undergo an emergency operation due to a leaky heart valve in July, leading to his demise a month later.
Despite his unfortunate departure, the entrepreneur was able to earn the status of a millionaire through his construction empire, which his family would keep alive.
Additional Information
- Richard Lugner worked on a reality TV show, Die Lugner, which aired in 2003. The show showcased his relationship with his wife and children as he struggled to find the balance between his personal and business lifestyle.
- The entrepreneur couldn’t spend much of his childhood with his father as he went missing in 1943 after becoming a war prisoner.
- Lugner addressed several dating rumors, including those about Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton, Pamela Anderson, and Goldie Hawn.
