Inside Richard Lugner's most controversial moments as Austrian billionaire dies aged 91: From calling Kim Kardashian 'annoying' to having six wives

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Austrian billionaire Richard Lugner, who has died aged 91, was renowned for his extravagant playboy lifestyle and paying thousands to take A-listers to the annual Vienna Ball. 

Lugner passed away in his Viennese villa on Monday according to Austrian media - just weeks after marrying his sixth wife. 

The construction tycoon and socialite was famed for his outspoken personality and love for the company of famous women - something which landed him in trouble over the years. 

Lugner 'dated' the likes of many A-listers including Kim Kardashian and Geri Halliwell, reportedly paying six-figure sums for them to attend his famous Opera Ball. 

Billionaire and construction tycoon Richard Lugner (pictured in Vienna in 2018) has died at the age of 91 

But his choice of guests often didn't end well, as he infamously branded Kim 'annoying' after she fled the ball, while another choice saw him invite a prostitute as his 'special guest', despite her being at the centre of a sex scandal.  

Lugner made headlines countless times for his outlandish personality and refusal to hold back his blunt opinions, often finding himself as one of Austria's greatest talking points. 

As fans of the Vienna Ball remember him following news of his death, FEMAIL looks back at some of the businessman's most controversial moments of the years. 

Calling Kim Kardashian 'annoying' after she refused to dance with him

Kim Kardashian and Richard Lugner pictured attending the traditional Vienna Opera Ball in 2014

Lugner called Kim 'annoying' after reportedly paying her half a million to attend the ball with him

One of the star guests Lugner invited to the Opera Ball was Kim Kardashian, whom he famously called 'annoying' after she and her mother Kris Jenner attended as his double date to the bash in 2014. 

Kim claimed she fled the event because she was reportedly offended following a reported racial slur from a guest.

After the ball, Lugner - nicknamed Mr Concrete due to his roots in the building trade - claimed the star would not dance with him despite being paid a jaw-dropping $500,000 (nearly £400,000).

But Kim insisted she was approached by a white male who was working at the event in 'blackface' and began to mimic her then-fiancé Kanye West, which was why she ran away.

Despite calling the Vienna Ball 'super glamorous', Kim admitted she had been already suffering anxiety largely because the event was 'super claustrophobic'.

Inviting a prostitute at the centre of a sex scandal to be his ball date

Lugner is pictured above dancing with Moroccan-born Karima El Mahroug, who was his guest at the Vienna Opera Ball in March 2011

Lugner invited Karima-el-Mahroug, an 18-year-old prostitute from Morocco, as his esteemed date to his ball in 2011. 

But Mahroug, also known as Ruby the Heart Stealer, was then at the centre of a sex scandal involving former Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi. 

The reaction to his choice was met with horror - even from the ball's organisers.  

The ball's main organiser was forced to issue a statement saying: 'I wish this wasn't true. It's sad, humiliating and disrespectful.'

Austria's then head of programming ordered journalists to avoid mentioning Ruby at all costs. 

At the time, Mr Burlusconi was accused of paying for sex with Ruby when she was under 17 - something she denied doing. 

Mahroug, also known as Ruby the Heart Stealer, was then at the centre of a sex scandal involving former Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi

Ruby herself said before attending the ball: 'I hope that people will be able to react to me as they find me and not as "scandal'' Ruby.

'I can only belly-dance, I can't waltz but I will try and dance with the others - you can learn a lot that way.'

Burlusconi was initially found guilty of paying the then-teenager for sexual services but the verdict was overturned on appeal.  

Lugner himself didn't seem too fussed about criticism sent his way and concerns about the numbers of prostitutes at his balls, shrugging it off by saying: 'Popes had mistresses too.' 

Shamelessly looking at another woman while standing next to his wife

Lugner shamelessly ogled his guest Carmen Electra while standing next to his then-wife Christina

U.S. actress Carmen Electra talks to reporters as her host Austrian businessman Richard Lugner listens during the traditional Opera Ball, on Thursday, February 23, 2006

While attending the 2006 Opera Ball, Lugner looked shamelessly at another guest while his oblivious wife gazed into the camera. 

Even while wed, it appeared he couldn't stay away from his womaniser ways, and appeared to not even try to hide it from the camera. 

It is a picture that seems to sum up the late businessman, who was married six times - the last time in June just weeks before he passed away.  

'One of my favorite snapshots of him. His wife looks and grins into the cameras while he looks at his guest's cleavage - wonderful,' Lugner's personal photographer Andreas Tischler reflected while speaking to Heute Today about the snapshot. 

It was Carmen Electra that Lugner couldn't keep his eyes off, who was his special guest to the ball that year. 

He was standing next to his then wife, Christina (Mausi) Lugner. 

His six wives and their wild age differences

Lugner married Playboy Bunny Cathy Schmitz, in 2014 - the couple had a 57-year age gap. Pictured in 2015

Lugner and his then wife Cathy made an appearance on This Morning during their short-lived marriage

Lugner has been married six times, with the ups and downs of his turbulent love life being regularly reported on as he was keen to open up about it. 

As he grew older, the age gaps between himself and his brides grew wider, with the most notable gap being 57 years.  

In 1961, Lugner got married to Christine Gmeiner and their union lasted until 1978. 

He then married Cornelia Laufersweiler in 1979, but got swiftly divorced four years later in 1983.

His wedding to his third wife, Susanne Dietrich, followed a year later, with the couple divorcing in 1989.

Lugner had married just two months ago to Simone Reilaender, who is 49 years his junior (pictured: Lugner and Reilaender's wedding in June)

Richard Lugner (R) waves next to Cathy Schmitz (L) after their wedding ceremony at the Schloss Schoennbrunn in Vienna, 2014

Lugner was married to his fourth wife, Christina Lugner, from 1990 to 2007, before tying the knot with his fifth wife, Playboy Bunny Cathy Schmitz, in 2014. 

The couple had a 57-year age difference and got divorced just 809 days later in 2016. At the time of their wedding, Schmitz was 24 and Lugner was 81. 

The billionaire announced his relationship with Simone Reilaender in 2021 and the couple got married in front of 50 guests June this year - just weeks before his death. 

Lugner had four children: Alexander and Andreas Lugner, from his first marriage, Nadine Jeannine Cutter from his relationship with actress Sonja Jeannine, and Jacqueline Lugner from his fourth marriage. 

He even featured on his own reality show, which was designed to find him a new wife. 

Saying an Austrian politician should be sent to Ukraine 'to be shot'

Austrian Interior Minister Herbert Kickl of the right-wing Austrian Freedom Party (FPOe), delivers a press statement next to Norbert Hofer in 2019

Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Lugner, who once ran to be Austrian president, said one of the country's politicians should be sent to the war-torn country 'to be shot'. 

Speaking at Cafe Puls, Lugner showed he disagreed with FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl's views in a very outspoken way. 

He said: 'I respect Mr. Hofer - but I don't respect Mr. Kickl at all. They should send him to Ukraine at some point so they can shoot him.'

The video of the moment went viral and attracted much controversy.  

Lugner said he had immediately regretted the statement and issued an apology statement: 'Dear party chairman! I would like to apologise for what I said in Café Puls - it was below the belt.

'I am frustrated because liberal values ​​such as excessive immigration are simply no longer an issue, but only anti-vaccination, which I personally reject because vaccination is certainly the only way to get the pandemic under control.'

Being rushed to hospital after his 'very long' wedding night 

Lugner, who has passed away aged 91, was rushed to Vienna Medical Centre earlier this year after a long wedding night

Richard Lugner, 91, and Simone 'Bienchen' Reilaender, his final wife whom he married in June (pictured)

Lugner has died just weeks after marrying his sixth and final wife, actress Simone Reilaender, 42. 

The pair had tied the knot in June, after initially breaking off their engagement. 

It seems like the pair had a very intimate relationship, despite Lugner being in his early 90s.  

Following their wedding night, Simone spoke out about their sex life, bragging to local media that it was even 'longer than the wedding day'. 

But it all seemed to be too much for the billionaire, who was taken to hospital following an injury, which he claimed was from his 'exercise bike'. 

He told local media: 'I'm still not feeling well, but I've been home for half an hour. I really hope that things will get better soon.' 

Being publicly snubbed after posing with a very revealing image of one of his ball guests 

Austrian businessman Richard Lugner presents a photo and a book of former ski star Lindsey Vonn, of United States, who he announced would be his special guest

Former Alpine Ski Racer Lindsey Vonn attends the red carpet ahead of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024

In 2020, Lugner announced that Olympic skiier Lindsey Vonn would be his sparkling guest to the Vienna ball that year. 

He made a great fuss over the announcement, revealing his choice at a press conference, saying: 'I think she's a great guest, even if she's not a Hollywood star.'

But Vonn did not receive the invitation well - likely due to the fact that Lugner had posed for the cameras holding a very revealing image of her. 

She bluntly rejected him on X without giving a reason, leaving him just weeks to find a replacement.  

Lindsey wrote: 'Hey guys, just wanted to let you know I won’t be attending the Vienna Opera. 

'Had an amazing time in Austria last week and looking forward to my next visit. Bis gleich! 

Vonn, 39, who once dated Tiger Woods, has an Olympic gold medal and won four world cup overall championships.