Austrian billionaire Richard Lugner has passed away.
He was discovered in his Vienna residence yesterday (August 12).
Lugner had been facing multiple health complications before his death and had undergone surgery in the months leading up to it.
In addition, he had married for the sixth time recently. Lugner wed Simone Reiländer, 42, at Vienna City Hall on June 1.
Born in Vienna in 1932, Richard Lugner completed his general school education before graduating from the Federal Technical and Commercial College, where he focused on building construction.
He began his career with a construction company in Austria’s capital and later acquired a license as a building contractor, eventually establishing his own business.
Lugner’s company gained recognition for constructing Vienna’s first mosque and the Stadttempel, the city’s main synagogue.
The 91-year-old also built his own shopping mall, Lugner City, which became a significant part of his legacy.
Upon Lugner City’s inauguration in 1990, he invited American singer Harry Belafonte to the shopping mall and took him to the Vienna Opera Ball.
From that point on, Lugner brought a famous celebrity each year to visit Lugner City and accompanied them to the Opera Ball.
Among the celebrities he invited to Vienna over the years were Goldie Hawn, Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Raquel Welch, Jane Fonda, and Priscilla Presley.
Following his death, tributes have poured in for Lugner, with the Lugner City shopping center leading the social media posts.
“Our Engineer Richard Lugner, our mortar and above all our beloved boss has unfortunately left us today,” a message shared on Facebook read.
“We can hardly put into words the pain we feel. 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!”
The country’s chancellor, Karl Nehammer, also wrote on X: “Richard Lugner was a successful entrepreneur and a dazzling personality. An Austrian original who never lost his way. May he rest in peace!”
Another person mentioned: “Richard #Lugner was a genuine, original and cheerful personality. His commitment to the #WienerOpernball and his refreshing unconventionality will never be forgotten.”
Lugner is survived by his four children: Jacqueline, Nadine, Alexander, and Andreas.