Richard Lugner, a notable Austrian billionaire, has sadly left us at the age of 91. His passing comes only two months after marrying his 42-year-old wife, Simone Reiländer.
Born on October 11, 1932, in Vienna, Lugner lived a life of significant accomplishments. He is most prominently known for opening Lugner City, one of Austria’s largest shopping centers. Additionally, he was instrumental in constructing Austria’s first mosque, the Vienna Islamic Centre.
Lugner’s penchant for high-profile relationships and glamorous events made him a familiar name. He famously invited celebrity guests to Vienna’s renowned Opera Ball, including stars like Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton, Jane Fonda, Goldie Hawn, and Pamela Anderson.
He passed away suddenly on Monday, August 12, in his villa in Vienna. The Lugner City shopping center expressed their sorrow on Facebook with a heartfelt message: “Our Engineer Richard Lugner, our mortar and above all our beloved boss has unfortunately left us today.
“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 cause of death remains undisclosed. His recent marriage to Simone Reiländer marked his sixth matrimony. Simone spoke highly of Richard before their nuptials, describing him as “everything she wanted in a man.” In her words, “A successful man who represents something, who you can cling to, look up to, and learn from. Men like that are very rare at a younger age these days.”
Recalling their wedding, Richard shared, “It was a fantastically beautiful wedding, the speech by the registrar was beautiful, the celebration was beautiful and the bride is beautiful.”
Reports revealed that shortly after their wedding, Richard was hospitalized due to back pain, attributed to an injury from exercising on a bike. On July 12, he was admitted to Vienna General Hospital for a ruptured heart valve. At that time, he mentioned that he had already made arrangements for his funeral and his tombstone.
Lugner also shared that his wife, Simone, had taken over the business roles, stating, “My wife wears the pants now. She should support me actively. From now on, we will share my work.”
