Austria’s society lion: Richard Lugner dies at 91
He brought Hollywood to Vienna: The busy entrepreneur Richard Lugner has now died unexpectedly. The 91-year-old had only just entered into his sixth marriage in June, with great media attention.
14.08.2024
Richard Lugner planned his funeral himself: lots of cameras buzzed around his coffin in St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna. The event was overshadowed by an embarrassing interview with one of his ex-wives.
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- This Saturday morning, Richard “Mörtel” Lugner set out on his final journey.
- The Viennese building contractor died on August 12 in his villa in Vienna-Döbling at the age of 91.
- The busy Lugner had planned his funeral ceremony himself during his lifetime.
- The funeral is overshadowed by a TV interview with his ex-wife Christine “Mausi” Lugner.
Today, Saturday, hundreds of people said goodbye to Richard “Mörtel” Lugner at a memorial ceremony in St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna.
The multi-millionaire building contractor, known for his appearances with stars and starlets at the Vienna Opera Ball, died on August 12. As in life, he wanted a spectacular event, so there were dozens of cameras in the church that broadcast every detail live.
“We tried to prepare everything so that he would like it,” said cathedral priest Toni Faber in an interview. “His soul will notice it, and he will look down with a smile and accept it gratefully.”
Almost all ex-wives were present at the funeral
His widow Simone, who was married to him for only 72 days, came in a floor-length black dress with a gold belt. She sat on one side of the coffin in the first row, while Lugener’s daughter Jacqueline and her mother Christina (“Mausi”) sat on the other side.
Richard Lugner was married to Christina for 17 years (from 1990 to 2007). A marriage that apparently left a lasting impression on him.
According to the deceased’s wishes, the coffin was to be buried at exactly 1:13 p.m. because 13 was his lucky number with Christina. The two had once said “I do” at 1:13 p.m.
Building contractor Richard Lugner was the most famous guest at the Vienna Opera Ball, always wearing a top hat.
The multi-millionaire building contractor had prepared his memorial service and funeral himself.
A memorial was set up in the Lugner shopping center after his death.
Lugner memorial service in a storm of cameras and flashbulbs – Gallery
Building contractor Richard Lugner was the most famous guest at the Vienna Opera Ball, always wearing a top hat.
The multi-millionaire building contractor had prepared his memorial service and funeral himself.
A memorial was set up in the Lugner shopping center after his death.
Almost all of the other ex-wives and companions were present at the funeral. Regional media unanimously reported that Nina “Bambi” Bruckner, Karin “Zebra” Karre, “Goldfisch” Andrea and Lydia “Wildsau” Kelovitz said goodbye to Lugner in St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
Richard Lugner was married six times. Only Simone’s predecessor, the former Playboy model Kathy, complained in the media that she had not been invited.
The building contractor had chosen a red coffin. That is the color of his Lugner City shopping center.
On top of it lay the top hat that Lugner wore every year when he accompanied prominent women to the Vienna Opera Ball for a handsome fee, most recently Elvis’ widow Priscilla Presley.
The coffin was to be driven in a procession past both the opera house and the shopping center before the burial at noon.
Ex-wife verbally attacks Lugner’s widow
Already in the run-up to today’s memorial service, it became clear that Lugner’s widow and some of his ex-wives are not very close.
Richard Lugner’s health had deteriorated rapidly shortly before his death. Despite being bedridden, his wife Simone is said to have appeared at a party in Kitzbühel a few days before the building contractor’s death.
This did not go down well with Lugner’s ex-wife Christina. In an interview with the TV channel RTL, she said: “He will always be in our hearts.”
Afterwards, she didn’t have a good word to say about the widow. “I certainly wouldn’t have left my husband alone at home when he was bedridden. That would never have been an option for me.”
Bild:
IMAGO/Viennareport
Instead, she would have cooked her husband soup or other things that he liked. Lugner’s ex-wife also cannot understand why the recently married couple did not sleep in the same bedroom:
«But as I said, everyone has to decide for themselves and find out for themselves what reasons they choose a different bedroom. […] We always slept together anyway.”
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