Austrian billionaire and socialite Richard Lugner, 91, has been laid to rest in a lavish funeral that marked the end of an era in Vienna’s high society. Known for his flamboyant lifestyle, multiple marriages, and penchant for rubbing shoulders with A-list celebrities, Lugner’s passing drew attention across the globe. The ceremony was held at Vienna’s iconic St. Stephen’s Cathedral, where family, friends, and high society figures gathered to pay their final respects.
Lugner’s sixth wife, 42-year-old actress Simone “Biene” Reilaender, who had married the tycoon just weeks before his passing, arrived notably late—20 minutes after the service began. In a move that sparked gossip among attendees, she chose not to sit with Lugner’s family, fueling speculation about the nature of their relationship.
Despite the somber occasion, Lugner’s colorful life was front and center. A construction magnate who built a fortune as Austria’s “Mr. Concrete,” he became equally famous for paying celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Geri Halliwell, and Paris Hilton six-figure sums to accompany him to Vienna’s annual Opera Ball.
His public feuds, particularly branding Kardashian “annoying” after an infamous falling out at the ball, cemented his place as a tabloid favorite.
Lugner’s funeral, which he had reportedly designed himself, is set to be remembered as one of the most talked-about events of the decade in Austria—a fitting tribute to a man who lived life on his terms.
