The sudden death of Christina Onassis in Argentina in 1988 presaged no changes in the shipping and real-estate empire founded by her father, Aristotle S. Onassis, according to several members of a multinational board that has run the business since he died in 1975.
The private fortune was estimated at $500 million to $1 billion (today's 5 billions), owned half by Christina Onassis and half by the Alexander Onassis Foundation, whose 14-member board has controlled the entire empire with minimial influence by Ms. Onassis as its president.
Several members said yesterday, after a meeting in Athens and calls to other members in Europe, the United States and Latin America, that the board would continue to manage the affairs of the Onassis family and contemplated no major changes in direction or organization.
The death of the 37-year-old heiress, whose four marriages and stormy personal life often obscured her role as a businesswoman, will apparently make her 3-year-old daughter, Athena, one of the world's richest people, family business associates in Athens said yesterday. A Dramatic Story
Like the tumultuous saga of the Onassis family itself, the story of Christina Onassis's death on Saturday was a dramatic, controversial and global affair, with implications in Europe and North and South America for governments, businesses and ordinary people touched by the family.
Not least were the implications for the infant, destined some day to control fleets of ships, skyscrapers in the capitals of the world, islands in the Ionian Sea and power beyond the dreams of all but a few people whose enterprise, or good fortune, sets them apart.
In Buenos Aires, authorities yesterday said they were investigating the cause of Ms. Onassis' death, which a judge called questionable, even though an aunt, Mary Onassis, insisted that she had died of a heart attack and ruled out suicide.
''She was at the best stage of her life,'' Mary Onassis said as she entered a Greek Orthodox bishopric, where the body was taken for a vigil after a mass. Other friends said, however, that Ms. Onassis had been undergoing an intensive weight-loss course, part of a constant fight against obesity that sometimes left her in excess of 200 pounds. Judge Orders an Autopsy
Ms. Onassis was found unconscious at a friend's mansion outside Buenos Aires and was pronounced dead on arrival at a hospital, where officials said she had apparently died of a heart attack. But a local judge ruled the death suspicious and ordered an autopsy after a box of pills was found near her. Forensic experts were to analyze the pills.
In Athens, a half-dozen of the 14 members of the board of the Onassis Foundation gathered yesterday - and conferred by telephone with the other members around the world - to discuss funeral arrangements and the future of the business founded by Aristotle Socrates Onassis, a Greek maverick who immigrated penniless into Argentina in the 1920's and became one of the world's richest men.
A family spokesman in Piraeus said that the body of Ms. Onassis would be returned to Greece and buried beside her father and brother on the Ionian island of Skorpios, which is owned by the family.
''Christina's death was a complete shock to all of us,'' said Stelios Papadimitriou, secretary general of the Onassis Group, the family holding company, as well as a member of the foundation's board and Ms. Onassis' personal lawyer.
''She had no trace of a heart ailment - indeed, no health problems at all,'' Mr. Papadimitriou added. ''Yet there is not a shadow of a doubt that she died of a heart attack. The possibility of a suicide is categorically ruled out.'' Board Members to Meet
Mr. Papadimitriou declined to discuss the family fortune or details of the future of the corporate empire of which she was a part. But he noted that the board members abroad were converging on Athens and would meet soon.
Another board member, Ioannis Georgakis, who was named the acting president of the foundation, said: ''Christina hardly ever interfered in the functioning of the Onassis Foundation, and we were very grateful to her for this. We have decided, in tribute to her, to continue her work and that of her father.''
Apostolos Zambelas, treasurer of the Onassis Group and a board member, said it was difficult to assess the exact value of the family's assets, but he said he would not deny estimates in the neighborhood of $1 billion.
When Aristotle Onassis died at the age of 68 on March 15, 1975, the Onassis Group was worth somewhat less than that. It controlled hundreds of corporations, 47 ships, Olympic Airways and real estate on several continents. But the shipping industry was in its worst depression since the 1930's, and 80 percent of the Onassis fortune was in ships.
In his will, Mr. Onassis left half his assets to Christina and half to the foundation named for his son, Alexander, who had died in the crash of a private plane two years earlier. The foundation - with 13 of his closest associates as members and Christina as president for life - was set up in Liechtenstein, where paid minuscule taxes as a charitable organization. A Generous Foundation
To keep this status, it continues to allocate large grants to many individuals and groups. Recipients have included Amnesty International, former President Alessandro Pertini of Italy, former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan of Britain, Lech Walesa of the Polish labor movement Solidarity, former Chancellor Helmut Schmidt of West Germany and Robert S. MacNamara, president of the World Bank.
As president of the board, Ms. Onassis wielded no extraordinary power beyond those of the other members. She had only one vote unless there was a tie, in which case she had two votes. Soon after her father died, it became apparent that he had ordered too many supertankers from Japanese and French shipyards.
Ms. Onassis, in her most forceful involvement, led a board decision to cancel the new ship orders. ''While we lost tens of millions of dollars, we could have lost hundreds of millions,'' Mr. Zambelas recalled. ''As the oil crisis worsened, nobody could say it was a wrong decision.''
Also shortly after Mr. Onassis died, Olympic Airways was taken over by the Greek Government, and the Onassis organization got about $104 million for its assets.
Over the years, the board and Ms. Onassis pared the shipping fleet down to about 35 tankers, freighters and other vessels by selling some and scrapping others. Meanwhile, it has increased real-estate holdings in the United States, Europe and Latin America. These include ownership of Olympic Towers, a residential and office condominium at 645 Fifth Avenue. Business by Telephone
In recent years, she had spent three to four hours a day conducting the family business by telephone from wherever her jet-set life took her. After marriages to Joseph Bolker, an American businessman, Alexander Andreadis, a Greek shipping magnate, and Sergei Kauzov, a Russian shipping agent - all of which ended in divorce - she married Thierry Roussel in 1984.
Mr. Roussel is a French phamaceuticals magnate who controls a dozen companies and is a multimillionaire. Their daughter, Athena, was born in January 1985, and the couple filed for divorce eight months later. The divorce proceedings had not been completed.
Ms. Onassis, who made frequent trips to Argentina, had been staying with Marina Dodero, one of her closest friends and a member of a shipping family. Ms. Onassis was born Dec. 11, 1950, in New York, but gave up her American citizenship for tax reasons after her father's death.
2 comments:
our personal researches allowed us to obtain these pictures showing a surprising similarity with Athina Onassis at more or less the same age) An article on www.sonjakasten1.wordpress.com (famous people/Athina Onassis) has effected a man called Gene Carrier to claim for Athina Onassis fathership. As there were many men who came forward in the case of Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter you may consider such a claim with greatest suspicion, even more so if there are 2.1 billion USD in the game. The information given by Gene Carrier is the following: he acertains having been a model at The First Agency in Paris owned by Thierry Roussell in 1984. Further he claims he was invited to a party with other models, party which was organized for Cristina Onassis in Paris. He maintains that Athina Onassis was conceived from an acquaintance resulting from this first meeting. A commenter, who later will claim having being personal body guard of Aristotelis Onassis, called Thanassis L, and actual owner of a travel agency, insists though on the fact that Cristina Onassis could not be involved in such kind of activity. â€..The parisian model is full of it..He has absolutely no valid proof to support his invalid statement. Christina Onassis was always a respectful Lady with manners, integrity and principals taught by her Mother and Father, ASO. I personally escorted Christina while in the old Olympic Airways Bdg on fifth Avenue, Manhattan,NYC. I went to lunches with her, banks, trips with her. At no time ever she acted in a disrespectful manner. She may have had a few disappointments in life just like every human on this planet. We all make mistakes during our lifes path. This yo-yo, so called model, malakas should be ashame to even post this untrue statement. She was not a whore. I dont even believe he met her or he was there unless he provides valid proof photo which I would test hightech screening if photo is valid. Captain Thanasis I am not being protective of Christina but having spent time with her I dont believe him. Gene Carrier provides though the following evidence: Another very relevant point is that you have to remember that it was Thierry Roussel agency that scouted me from Los Angeles and the timing of Christina weight reduction rehab … She was a shinning star the night I met her ..She was really at her best ,I was 28 years old and the man of the year …..Makes me think that it was somehow or some one had planned it this way ,,,,I have thought of this ,,bring in an outsider from another far away town and then control his work and force him out of town so to speak Then you get married and claim paternity of the worlds richest daughter Or it was this way that she met me and got pregnant and Thierry volunteered to marry Christina for reasons that a woman of her social status should not raise a child without a father The key is in finding out how far in advance the wedding was planned . I see the second theory and that it was planned in the usual Christina hurry ,, I was in shows for Christian Dior Jean Paul Gautier Thierry Muglar Hiroho Koshino All for winter season , This was in January in 1984 Just before her marriage to Thierry Roussel.The officel mag shot was in march April or June . I think I still have copies , I used that shot in my portfolio for many years Perci Attwood is the name of the editor I believe of Officel Homme I thought to try to buy back issue on the net but it could be easier for you since you are closer and you speak French I lived in one of the company apartment of First Models in Paris on Rue Faraday . Down the street from a famous French market . March des terns comes to mind but I could be wrong about the name of the market but Rue Faraday I will never forget …I visited this apartment last time I was in Paris … I will have to wait and try at least to gather other supporting evidence that I was there at that time in my life . I think I have passport stamps on my old passport .But the email letter from Patrizia from Milano is my best witness who puts me there at Thierry First Model Agency in 1984 .The video tapes of the Christian Dior shows would help with getting other models because I can’t even remember my room mates names in Paris , except one named Randal something I just don’t remember his second name . We went to the party together sharing a cab in Paris . I might be able to get it here in LA but not sure model agencies keep records that far back or would be willing to help or look for that matter …I need either my daughters cooperation in this matter or her DNA or some concrete evidence like a living close friend to Christina ..Maybe this Basauldo character would know about me , it was in his apartment one of the times I met Christina . It was funny cause I asked her why here , she apologizes is all I will say about that encounter Maybe Basauldo will come forward ,,can you find him ??? I will try for my ex roommate Randal _____ Blank still on the last name +++ When checking out Thierry Mugler say that you are writing something on christina Onassis and their Tenth anniversary falls on the year that Thierry Roussel was married to Christina Onassis and you want to use photos from his show archives to illustrate how fashion looked in that year . or something to that effect and if Christina Onassis was at any of the shows Their guest book would reflect that ..tell them it would be good publicity for them if she was and even better if she was photographed at the show . It would put us in the same room and who knows maybe this is where she saw me and pursued me maybe . she was the richest girl in the world at this time and she could arrange just about anything in her day as princess Christina… Dear Sonja, My Dying Wish Is to be buried next to Christina Onassis and I want to get this part of the fighting for what is rightfully mine , That is about Athina being my daughter …. She was stolen from me without my knowledge , what I am sorry for is taking so long to figure it out . I carried this with me for so many years and it always seemed that their was no way for me to get any information ..Information ,,it is so important this word .I felt in my heart some kind of connection and I told a friend about my affair but I used the name Princess and never used the Onassis name , They never doughted me then that I had an affair with a Princess . That Pricess was Christina when she shown like a brilliant star that evening a the party .Sonja lets see what you can do , I am ready to do battle for my daughter .I remember the scene of Christina and her best friend from Argentina met on the court house steps and fell into each others arms and cried and forgave each other . I some how figure that she had something to do with covering up Christina’s death ..removing pill bottles from her room. Just a feeling I get when I examine that bit of information..The most damaging part of Christina’s death is the fact that Thierry never investigated the death of Chritina Onassis..Sincerely, Jene carrier+++ Dear Sonja, Another thought that just came to is the fact that if Thierry Roussel is not the biological father of Athina , then he had no business filing the will or Christina Onassis ..no matter what country he filled the will in it could be contested . For reasons that he is not blood related to Athina and he was in fact divorced from Christina at the time . He had no rights to file and it will be contested on these grounds. And this is the most relevant point I can make in the case . It gives me right to contest the will of Christina Onassis …. As I have last said I want to do this in connection and with Athina . I do not want to do anything against her or her interest … There has got to be a way that we could work together on this .I have read about Alvero and happy for her about marriyng this man .It is he who helped her about this bad business with Thierry Roussel and it was Alvero He has been a good factor in Athina’s life and I see it for the merits that he has brought forward and the support he gave Athina through getting Thierry Roussel Out of Athina’s business.. Sincerely, Gene Carrier He finds confirmation of his sayings in e-mail exchange with owner of model agency in Milano Patrizia: Gene Writes Dear Patrizia, I am wondering if you remember anything about Paris agency where you found me. The reason is this I need proof that I was working for Thierry Roussel’s First model agency in Paris 1984 . You see one of my Children I believe is Athina Onassis and it would help me greatly to prove some certain facts . If you are not afraid to come forward and give a statement for the record . I would respect any choice you make in this matter . Sincerely, Gene Carrier++++ gene CarrierPatrizia Writes & Personal info like email removed …. dear Gene,I remember you were working for karin men when I found you in Paris but beside that I don’t understand which kind of records I could give you…..Explain me better..ciao !!!!!To: Patrizia Sent: Subject: Patrizia, I guess you do not remember as well as me . I was in the office of first model agency and you asked me for some original photo’s from my portfolio and I said I would give you some zerox copies . I looked up to the wall were the zerox copies were because of the shows going on and the bookers had no way to remember so many models who had arrived for the shows in Paris . The copies were taken down from the walls and I asked the bookers where mine were and they said the trash bin , I dug the photo’s out of the trash bin knocked off the cigarette ashes from the photos and those were the photo’s that you took . I got a call from you to do the Lucano Soprani campaign and that was how I got my first booking in Milano . Do you remember the trash bin part . Well this all happened at First model agency and I want to prove the paternity of Athina Onassis and if you do not want to help me find my daughter then you can always say that you do not wish to be involved . I will understand . I think I still have a couple of head shots from the beginning with First models printed on my cards . here is a little bit of my story ,,,,,,I was at a party in 1984 thrown by Thierry Roussel The owner of First Model Agency in Paris . Christina Onassis was the only female there at this party along with 25 male models from Thierry agency In particular was one male model that connected with Christina Onassis at that party . I believe that this male model is the real father of Athina Onassis and not Thierry roussel. I am wondering if Thierry and Athina have ever had a DNA test and I would bet money that no test have ever been done .. She doesn;t have blue eyes like Thierry and the face the eyes and the teeth and smile look exactly like this male model that connected with Christina at Thierry s party .. I believe what the rest of the would believes about Thierry and that he married Christina for her money . maybe he set it up to marry her with reasons like that a woman of her stature should not have a baby out of wedlock or that it would be good for the child to have a father as the father once she found out she was pregnant…Since her tragic death and the mystery surronding her death this could be one of the secrets to the Onassis heir Is there a way to get this message to Athina ??? I would like her to know since she has had so many problems with Thierry and it might set her free from her bad past with him , especially if it trues out that a DNA would prove that Thierry is not the real Father of Athina .I have kept another secret for all these years ,, I was that model in 1984 in Paris and worked for Thierry Roussel First Model Agency and he had a party one night and there were 25 of us male models and only one female there , her name was Christine and only one model had an affair with her and yes that model was me Turns out that Thierry married Christine Onassis and Christine had a child Athina Onassis ,, The poor little rich girl was the title people gave her Funny thing is she looks a lot like me too hair line ,Eyes , eye brows and also the teeth Recently I searched her and found out she paid Thierry 84 or 100 million dollars to go away ? Was that some sort of settlement ,,, why would she do that if he was her real father ???Could she have found out something that the rest of the world does not know ?? All I am saying is that she does not look like Thierry Roussel and have told a couple of people this story and they all say the same thing , that they never thought she looked at all like Thierry as well.Its not records that I am looking for just a statement that you remember the first time we met at first agency . My memory is perfect and I did later work for karins agency but the First Model Agency is where we met . Thank you so much, gene Carrier .Sorry, I did a mistake with the name of the agency but as you know it was 23 years ago and from when I started this business 25 years ago, I saw many agencies, bookers changing name and agencies so being not so important to me its easy to forget some passages !!!!!Any way your story its interesting but I don’t know how I can help you to prove it..the only thing I can guarantee it is that I met you there that’s it !!!!!Keep me update when you have news.ciao+++Here is a conversation with Patricia from Milan Italy, she is the person who discovered me in Paris at Thierry Roussel and this places me inside the agency . This is my proof , her English is not clear but she say that’s it Quote :..the only thing I can guarantee it is that I met you there that’s it !!!!! …..Meaning the only thing she can guarantee is she met me at First Agency in Paris 1984……Do you think this is enough for me to get a n attorney with ?? Please advise me I can not wait until September ..I have waited to long to come forward already .. Sincerely , Gene Carrier PS . You never answered me about some of the private email that you must have received on this article. And seems to find proof of pressure made on people surrounding Athina Onassis, through the sudden change of mood of someone called Mantheakis and next to the Onassis family: Jean, I was away for a couple of weeks and could not access my email. Regarding the subject you have mentioned - I have carefully read what you wrote and would advise you to tread very carefully because this will create a lot of discussion in the press and it is very likely, I think, that there may be a reaction from Athina’s lawyers. Of course you are free to act as you wish, according to what you really believe. I for my part have received no reply from the family and cannot push this matter further - I am an outsider and have no say, obviously. You must understand this. All I can say is that your message will get through to Athina, after your contact with me, one way or another. Sincerely Alexis Mantheakis +++I have read your emails carefully and your story surprises me very much. Nothing of this sort has ever been mentioned in the past, nor have these claims ever been heard before. Athina has definitely never spoken to me about something like this. It would be useful if you could a) send me an address and a phone number for yourselfb) tell me where you are living at the momentc) send me a photo of yourself.d) tell me more about yourself, what you are doing now etc Regarding the story I will see that your emails are passed on to Athina’s people. Alexis Mantheakis+++Just as I have told you ……Dear Mr Carrier,I have received your emails and would like to say that unfortunately I can be of no help as I am not in contact any more with Athina or her family, nor do I have any personal knowledge of the events that you describe . I cannot advise you of how to proceed because I am unaware of the legal and other mechanics of these matters. I would therefore suggest that you speak to someone who is competent and can set this matter to rest. rgds Alexis Mantheakis+++ Seen the amount of information hinting to proof Gene Carrier’s reliability, it would be of need to ask M Thierry Roussel to justify his fatherhood through DNA test. Relevant information on those quite interesting happenings will be published in time.
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