Richard Siegfried “Mörtel” Lugner, commonly known as Richard Lugner, was an influential Austrian businessman, known for his successful construction projects and flamboyant public persona.
Often nicknamed “Mörtel” (mortar) in his native Austria, Lugner was a towering figure who made a name for himself in Viennese high society.
File
- Full name: Richard Siegfried “Mörtel” Lugner
- Stage name: Richard Lugner
- Date of birth: October 11, 1932
- Date of death: August 12, 2024 (Age: 91)
- Place of birth: Vienna, Austria
- Nationality: Austrian
- Occupation: Politician and businessman
- Parents: Richard Lugner Sr. and Leopoldine Lugner
- Siblings: Roland Lugner
- Spouse: Christine Gmeiner (m. 1961-1978), Cornelia Laufersweiler (m. 1979-1983), Susanne Dietrich (m. 1984-1989), Christina Lugner (m. 1990-2007), Cathy Schmitz (m. 2014 -2016), and Simone Reiländer (m. 2024)
- Children: Nadine Jeannine Cutter, Jacqueline Lugner, Andreas Lugner and Alexander Lugner
- Relationship: Married
- Net worth: $200 million
Early life and education
Richard Lugner was born on October 11, 1932, in Vienna, Austria. He was raised by his parents, Richard Lugner Sr. and Leopoldine Lugner, along with his older brother, Roland Lugner. His educational background is not publicly disclosed, but his ethnicity is Viennese, and his religion is Christian.
Career
Richard Lugner spent his early career working in the construction industry, first for a construction company in Vienna and then working in the construction division of Mobil Oil Austria.
In 1962, he obtained a building permit and began specializing in the construction of gas stations and the renovation of old buildings. His company prospered and he became more widely known in 1979 when he completed Vienna’s first mosque, the Vienna Islamic Center.
While his competitors focused on securing large reconstruction and expansion contracts, Lugner was able to establish himself and his company through relatively smaller contracts. He is also known for renovating the Stadttempel, Vienna’s main synagogue, in 1988. By the late 1990s, Lugner had gradually withdrawn from the construction industry, handing over management to his sons.
Lugner then moved into politics, finishing fourth in the 1998 presidential election with 9.91% of the vote. In 1999, he founded a separate political platform called Die Unabhängigen (“The Independents”), but they received only 1.02% of the vote and failed to win any seats in parliament.
By the end of the millennium, however, more than 90% of Austrians recognized the name Lugner. In 2016, Lugner announced his intention to run for president again, receiving 2.26% of the vote in the first round.
Social media
- Instagram handle: @richard_lugner
- Facebook Manager: Richard Lugner
- Twitter Name: @richard_lugner
Personal life
Richard Lugner is known for his rich marital history, having been married six times during his lifetime. His first marriage was to Christine Gmeiner in 1961, which ended in divorce in 1978. He then married Cornelia Laufersweiler in 1979, but they divorced in 1983. Lugner’s third marriage was to Susanne Dietrich in 1984, which also ended in divorce in 1989.
Lugner’s fourth marriage was to Christina Lugner in 1990, and they divorced in 2007. He then married Cathy Schmitz in 2014, but they divorced in 2016. Lugner’s final marriage was to Simone Reiländer in 2024, shortly before his death.
Richard Lugner has a total of four children, including two sons, Alexander and Andreas, from his first marriage, an illegitimate daughter named Nadine with actress Sonja Jeannine, and a youngest child, Jacqueline, from his fourth marriage to Christina Lugner.
Net worth
Richard Lugner was an Austrian businessman who achieved considerable financial success during his lifetime. At the time of his death, Lugner’s net worth was estimated at $200 million. This substantial net worth was the result of Lugner’s entrepreneurial efforts and business acumen throughout his career.
