Construction magnate Richard Lugner passes away at 91, shortly after marriage to sixth wife, 42

Wedding of Richard Lugner and Simone Reiländer, celebration at Palais Auersperg, Vienna, Austria, June 1, 2024. Photo handout via AFP

Lugner died on Monday at his Viennese villa, as reported by AFP.

People magazine noted that Lugner faced health challenges recently, including multiple surgeries, though the exact nature of these was not revealed.

Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer honored Lugner on X, describing him as “a successful entrepreneur and a dazzling personality,” and “an Austrian original who never lost his way.”

“May he rest in peace!” Nehammer wrote.

Lugner City, the shopping center Lugner established in Vienna in 1990, released a statement on its Facebook page expressing sorrow: “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 statement also expressed a desire to remember the positive memories: “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.”

Lugner and Reiländer were wed in June this year at Vienna City Hall, in what Lugner described as his final marriage, according to local media reports.

In addition to his business endeavors, Lugner was also known for inviting celebrities to Lugner City every year and accompanying them to the Vienna Opera Ball, an annual high-profile event held at the Vienna State Opera. His last attendance at the ball was this February with American businesswoman and actress Priscilla Presley, the former wife of American singer Elvis Presley.

Additionally, Lugner dabbled in politics, running as an independent in the Austrian presidential elections in 1998 and 2016.