Headlines were his fuel, marriage his pet zoo
Richard Lugner, remembered by many as the namesake of his shopping center, will also be remembered for his appearances at the Vienna Opera Ball. The 91-year-old played with the public and the media, often acting as the "clown" - but he often came out on top.
His stage was the Vienna Opera Ball. On the glittering event with its 5,000 guests, Richard "Mörtel" Lugner basked in the flash of photographers' cameras. By his side was a celebrity, a beauty, or a highly demanding companion, like the 2014 "It Girl" Kim Kardashian with her many special requests. For discreetly unmentioned high sums, prominent women accompanied him to the ball - the last being Priscilla Presley, the widow of Elvis.
But Lugner also made headlines in June with his sixth marriage. He married Simone Reilaender, who was around 50 years younger than him. In July, he underwent a heart operation, which he reportedly recovered from well. Now, he has passed away at the age of 91.
The entrepreneur was sometimes shockingly embarrassing, sometimes almost endearingly naive in his self-display. When the TV cameras were rolling, nothing seemed too uncomfortable for him. In the reality TV show "The Lugners" on ATV, "Mörtel" revealed his private life in around 100 episodes from 2003 onwards.
Between Real and Calculated Emotions
From shouting matches at the Opera Ball to reconciliation photos in the bathtub, all real and calculated emotions were played out in front of TV cameras. "My passion is hotter than goulash soup," he quoted from an operetta song in front of running cameras.
His heart belonged particularly to young women. This was especially noticeable in 2014 when he married the German model Cathy in Schönbrunn Palace. She was 57 years younger than him.
When the marriage ended two years later, it made Lugner, who said he received many offers from 25- to 30-year-old women, think. His target group is now women around 40. "That's what's deepest," he concluded.
A 2016 diagnosed prostate cancer may also have made him think. He survived the disease and appeared remarkably vital in many appearances. To maintain this, he had injections, did cold and diet cures.
Lugner's Petting Zoo
All his girlfriends got animal names, being called "Mausi", "Hasi", "Kafer", "Bambi", "Kolibri", for example. When reporters asked him about "Lugner's Petting Zoo", he didn't take it as an affront to him or his current partner.
Instead, Lugner collected every line written about him, including malicious comments. "I like to see myself in the newspaper," he admitted. His office was filled with folders containing articles about Lugner.
Speaking of the office: Lugner's life wasn't just about pleasure and almost daily going out - he was also in his office until the end, working. The "Lugner City" in Vienna, with its more than 110 shops and 56,000 square meters of rentable space, is the engineer's life's work. In the "Lugner City", the star guests of the Opera Ball gave autograph sessions and press conferences - ensuring the shopping mall's big media echo.
Clown instead of Chancellor - and yet a Winner
Political forays also belong to the life of the society lion. In 1998, he ran for the office of Austrian Federal President. The builder received 9.9 percent of the votes, which was considered a respectable result.
This should not happen again, as his later TV appearances made him a laughing stock in Austria's society. Thus, in his second presidential candidacy in 2016, he received only 2.3 percent of the votes. "I am the Kasperl and the Kasperl always wins" was his unsuccessful motto.
Moreover, his annual Opera Ball appearances were not as smooth as they seemed on the surface. On one hand, Lugner often had some tension with the antics of his guests, on the other hand, the society that considered itself truly noble was not pleased with the rather flashy guest. "They don't like me there, but the Opera Ball benefits from me," Lugner once said.
Looking back on his life as the head of a construction company, the owner of a shopping center, and often a laughing stock as a flamboyant character who would do anything for a headline, Lugner said a few years ago: "Everything went well for me - except for the women."
The entertainment at the Opera Ball was always lively with Richard Lugner's antics, often playing the role of a "clown" but always managing to come out on top. His appearances on the reality TV show "The Lugners" provided a glimpse into his private life, filled with genuine and calculated emotions.
Richard Lugner's shopping center, Lugner City, was not only a place for shopping but also a stage for his high-profile guests, who would attend autograph sessions and press conferences there, adding to the center's media buzz.
