One of his greatest business milestones was the commission in 1975 by the then king of Saudi Arabia, Faisal ibn Abd ul-Aziz, to build the Islamic Center of Vienna, the only mosque in the Alpine country with a minaret. He was known for inviting celebrities to the openings of his shopping centers.
Richard Lugner built a reputation in Austrian society since the 1960s as a builder, shopping center owner and reality show host.
The construction of the Islamic Center of Vienna catapulted Lugner to fame, allowing him to open his own shopping center in the center of Vienna in 1988, the ‘Lugner City‘, which quickly became one of the most successful in the country.
Hollywood not Vienna
The businessman also established himself in the collective memory by inviting renowned stars for years, such as Sophia Loren, Jacqueline Bisset, Joan Collins, Pamela Anderson, Melanie Griffith o Jane Fondaal ‘Opera Ball‘, the most striking event of the Austrian dance season.
In the 2024 edition, Lugner confirmed to Priscilla Presleyex-wife of Elvis Presleyas your guest of honor.
His popularity in Austria also led him to enter politics, running for office. elections presidential elections in 1998, although many considered his campaign more of a marketing tactic for your own businesses than a true political ambition.
He had just gotten married in June for the sixth time
The contractor ran again in the 2016 federal elections, although without success against the favorite candidate, the environmentalist Alexander van der Bellencurrent president of the alpine republic.
As is usual in his profile, in his personal life, the tycoon attracted media attention for his romantic relationships, often with much younger women. In June of this year, he contracted marriage for the sixth time with Simone Reiländer, 42, about whom he expressed the desire to actively involve her in his businesses.
A month after the wedding, Lugner underwent a surgeryheart attack that complicated his healthleading to his death at his residence in the Vienna district of Döbling.
Additional sources • Enrique Barrueco (Voice-over)
