Alec N. Wildenstein facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alec Wildenstein
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|---|---|
| Born |
Alec Nathan Wildenstein
August 5, 1940 Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
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| Died | February 18, 2008 (aged 67) Paris, France
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| Occupation | Art dealer, racehorse owner and breeder |
| Spouse(s) |
Jocelyne Périsset
(m. 1978; div. 1999)Liouba Stoupakova
(m. 2000) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent(s) | Daniel Wildenstein Martine Kapferrer |
| Relatives | Guy Wildenstein (brother) |
Alec Nathan Wildenstein (August 5, 1940 – February 18, 2008) was an American billionaire businessman, art dealer, and a big name in horse racing. He owned and bred many racehorses.
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Who Was Alec Wildenstein?
Alec Wildenstein was born in Marseille, France, in 1940. He grew up in New York City. His family was well-known for their art business. His great-grandfather started the family's art dealing business way back in 1875.
Early Life and Family Business
Alec's father, Daniel Wildenstein, was a famous expert in Impressionist art. He was a very strong personality, and his work was well-known. Daniel believed that his sons didn't need a university degree to work in the family business. Both Alec and his father shared a deep love for racehorses.
When his father passed away in 2001, Alec Wildenstein inherited a large part of their family business. This included what many believed to be the world's biggest private collection of important artworks. The family's business was estimated to be worth billions of US dollars.
A Passion for Horse Racing
Alec Wildenstein truly loved horses and horse racing. He was interested in both thoroughbred horses for flat racing and steeplechase events. He also liked standardbred horses for harness racing.
His racing stable, called Ecurie Wildenstein, had top trainers. These trainers helped his horses become very successful. Some of the famous horses he raced include:
- Bright Sky – This horse won important races like the Prix de Diane and Prix de l'Opéra.
- Aquarelliste – Another winner, taking home the Prix Vermeille, Prix de Diane, and Prix Ganay.
- Westerner – This horse was a champion stayer in Europe in 2004 and 2005. It won the Ascot Gold Cup and other major races.
- Vallée Enchantée – This horse won the Hong Kong Vase.
In 2004, one of Wildenstein's steeplechase horses, Kotkijet, won the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris for the second time. He owned Kotkijet with Jean-Pierre Dubois.
His Family and Ranch
In 1977, Alec's family bought a large part of the Ol Jogi Ranch in Kenya. It was a huge property, about 66,000 acres (267 square kilometers). By 1985, the family owned the entire ranch.
Alec met Jocelyne Périsset when she was a guest at the Ol Jogi Ranch. They got married on April 30, 1978. They had two children together, a daughter named Diane and a son named Alec Jr. They later separated and divorced.
