Richard Lugner, Billionaire Who Paid Kim Kardashian To Be His Date, Dies At 91
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Kim Kardashian and Richard Lugner at The Vienna Opera Ball in 2014. (Image: X/@KardashianWord)
Lunger in 2014 paid USD 500,000 to have Kim Kardashian as his date for his annual Vienna Opera Ball
Billionaire businessman Richard Lugner, who is known for hosting celebs like Kim Kardashian, Sophia Loren, Jane Fonda, Pamela Anderson, died at the age of 91. Lugner was reportedly battling several health problems in recent months and underwent heart surgery.
The Austrian entrepreneur, who got married for the sixth time just two months ago, reportedly passed away at his villa in Vienna, according to multiple outlets.
Austrian chancellor Karl Nehammer paid tribute to him on X and wrote, “Richard Lugner was a successful entrepreneur and a dazzling personality. An Austrian original who never lost his way. May he rest in peace!”
Richard Lugner war ein erfolgreicher Unternehmer und eine schillernde Persönlichkeit. Ein österreichisches Original, das sich nie verbogen hat. Er ruhe in Frieden! pic.twitter.com/tqp6Zau9fJ— Karl Nehammer (@karlnehammer) August 12, 2024
Who is Richard Lugner? Billionaire Paid Kim Kardashian For A Date
Lugner was a successful Austrian entrepreneur involved in construction and real estate businesses. He was known for his flashy lifestyle and his celebrity connections. The billionaire was known for paying A-list female celebrities, including Kim Kardashian in 2014, to be his date to luxe events.
According to various reports, Lunger in 2014 paid USD 500,000 to have Kim Kardashian as his date for his annual Vienna Opera Ball.
The billionaire also harboured political ambitions and ran twice in the Austrian presidential elections as an independent candidate, once in 1998 and again in 2016, as per Euro News.
Richard Lugner was born in Vienna on October 11, 1932. He built his “Lugner City” shopping centre in Vienna. He was previously married to Christine Gmeiner (1961-1978), Cornelia Laufersweiler (1979-1983), Susanne Dietrich (1984-1989), Christina Lugner (1990-2007), as well as Playboy model and actress Cathy Schmitz (2014-2016).
(With inputs from agency)
