Vienna Bids Farewell to Magnate Who Brought Stars to Its Opera Ball

Music|Vienna Bids Farewell to Magnate Who Brought Stars to Its Opera Ball

The Vienna Opera Ball, a glittering, glamorous affair, always attracts politicians, business executives, artists and socialites. But in a high-profile crowd, none reigned quite like Richard Lugner, a billionaire Austrian construction magnate who died this week at 91.

Lugner was famous for showing up at the ball each year with megawatt Hollywood stars, whom he often paid to appear with him. His guests over the years included Sophia Loren, Goldie Hawn, Brooke Shields and Kim Kardashian. They were usually, but not always, women: He brought Harry Belafonte one year, and Roger Moore another. When Jane Fonda went in 2023, she was quoted as explaining that he had offered to pay her “quite a bit of money” to appear as his guest. At this year’s ball in February, Lugner appeared with Priscilla Presley, the former wife of Elvis Presley.

Karl Nehammer, the chancellor of Austria, wrote on X that Lugner, who also tried his hand at politics, was “an Austrian original.” In a statement, the Vienna State Opera expressed its “sincere condolences to Richard Lugner’s family.”