Richard Lugner: Unexpected death of the Viennese original shocks fans

Richard Lugner: Unexpected death of the Viennese original shocks fans

The death of Richard Lugner, the entrepreneur and society star known throughout Austria, occurred in August 2024 and has shocked many people ever since. Lugner was found dead in his villa in Vienna's posh Döbling district on August 12, 2024 at the age of 91. Despite attempts by rescue workers to resuscitate him on site, all help was unsuccessful. To date, the official cause of death has not been released. As the tz reported, there is no further information about a medical diagnosis that could be linked to his death, raising questions.

In the weeks before his death, Lugner suffered from health problems that ultimately resulted in serious heart surgery. This was carried out in mid-July 2024 because of a rupture in his heart valve, using a minimally invasive “clip method”. A cracked lumbar vertebra also plagued the Viennese native, like that Focus reported. He was allowed to leave the hospital a week after the operation and, according to his wife Simone, was on the mend when he died unexpectedly two days later.

Mysterious death

The circumstances of his sudden death remain a mystery to both family and friends of Lugner. According to statements from his fourth ex-wife, Christina, who spoke to him on the phone the evening before his death, Lugner was in severe pain, possibly indicating a medical event such as a heart attack or stroke. His fifth ex-wife, Cathy, also expressed shock at the loss, which came as a surprise to everyone.

The SN states that cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of death in Austria. They made up 34.3% of those who died in 2024, which also casts Lugner's health background in a serious light. His case illustrates how quickly sudden and tragic developments can occur as we get older.

An obituary for a Viennese original

Richard Lugner, who also hit the headlines as a multiple husband and father of four children, leaves a painful hole in the hearts of his family as well as his fans and friends. Known for his performances at the Vienna Opera Ball, where he brought international stars as guests, he was recognized as a true “Viennese original”. Not only his entrepreneurial successes, but also his exuberant life in Viennese high society will be remembered by many.

His wedding to long-time partner Simone “Bienchen” Reiländer on June 1, 2024 marked a special turning point in his life. Despite the health challenges, it seemed as if nothing stood in the way of a happy future. The sudden turn of his story reminds us all how precious and fragile life is.