Aristotle Onassis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aristotle Onassis
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| Αριστοτέλης Ωνάσης | |
Onassis in 1967
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| Born |
Aristotle Socrates Onassis
20 January 1906 |
| Died | 15 March 1975 (aged 69) Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
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| Resting place | Skorpios Island, Greece |
| Nationality | Greek |
| Citizenship |
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| Education | Evangelical School of Smyrna |
| Occupation |
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| Spouse(s) |
Tina Livanos
(m. 1946; div. 1960) |
| Partner(s) | Maria Callas (1959–1968) |
| Children | |
| Relatives | Athina Onassis (granddaughter) |
Aristotle Socrates Onassis (born January 20, 1906 – died March 15, 1975) was a very successful Greek businessman. He built the world's largest privately-owned shipping fleet. This made him one of the richest and most famous people in the world.
He was married to Athina Mary Livanos, who was the daughter of another shipping leader. He also had a long relationship with the famous opera singer Maria Callas. Later, he married Jacqueline Kennedy, the widow of US President John F. Kennedy.
Onassis was born in Smyrna (now İzmir in Turkey). In 1922, his family had to flee to Greece because of the Great fire of Smyrna. In 1923, he moved to Argentina. There, he started as a tobacco trader and later became a shipping owner.
During the 1950s, he moved to Monaco. He gained control of a big company there, the SBM, which owned the Monte Carlo Casino. In the 1960s, he tried to make a large investment deal in Greece. He also sold Olympic Airways, an airline he had started in 1957. Onassis was deeply saddened by the death of his son, Alexander, in a plane crash in 1973. He passed away two years later.
Contents
Aristotle Onassis's Early Life
Growing Up in Anatolia
Aristotle Socrates Onassis was born in 1906 in Karataş. This was a part of the port city of Smyrna (now İzmir, Turkey). His parents were Socrates Onassis and Penelope Dologou. He had a sister, Artemis, and two half-sisters.
His father, Socrates, was a successful shipping businessman. He made sure his children went to good schools. Aristotle graduated from the local Evangelical Greek School at 16. He could speak four languages: Greek, Turkish, Spanish, and English.
Smyrna was controlled by Greece for a short time after World War I. But then, Turkey took it back during the Greco-Turkish War. The Onassis family lost their valuable properties. They became refugees and fled to Greece after the Great fire of Smyrna in 1922.
This time was very hard for the Onassis family. His father was sent to prison. The family's business was taken over by the Turks. The rest of the family had to live in an outdoor camp in Greece with other refugees.
Starting Fresh in Argentina
In 1923, Onassis went back to Constantinople with $250. In August of that year, he arrived in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He used a special travel document called a Nansen passport. His first job was as a telephone operator.
He also studied business and port management. Later, he became an entrepreneur. He started an import-export company. He made a lot of money by importing English-Turkish tobacco to Argentina. He became an Argentine citizen in 1929.
He then started his first shipping company in Buenos Aires, called Astilleros Onassis. After making his first fortune, he expanded his shipping business worldwide. He moved to New York City, USA, to build his shipping empire. He still kept offices in Buenos Aires and Athens.
His time in Buenos Aires led to the creation of a shipping empire. He also created a Hellenic Culture Fund. This fund provides scholarships for young people. It also supports international exchange programs between Argentina, Greece, Monaco, and the United States. His daughter, Christina Onassis, later helped manage these programs.
Aristotle Onassis's Business Ventures
Building a Shipping Empire
Onassis built a huge fleet of freighters (cargo ships) and tankers. Eventually, he owned more than seventy vessels. Most of his ships used "flags of convenience". This means they were registered in countries with fewer rules and lower costs.
Countries like the United States had stricter rules and higher wages. By using flags of convenience, Onassis's fleet could operate tax-free and at a lower cost. This smart business move helped him earn large profits in the competitive shipping world. He also made a lot of money by signing long-term contracts with big oil companies.
Taking Control in Monaco
Onassis arrived in Monaco in 1953. He started buying shares of Monaco's Société des bains de mer de Monaco (SBM). He used other companies to do this, often in places like Panama where taxes are low. By the summer of 1953, he had taken control of SBM.
SBM owned many important properties in Monaco. These included the Monte Carlo Casino, the Monaco Yacht Club, and the Hôtel de Paris. It also owned a large part of the country's land.
At first, Monaco's ruler, Prince Rainier III, welcomed Onassis. Monaco needed new investments. But by 1962, their relationship became difficult. They had different ideas for Monaco's future.
Onassis wanted Monaco to stay a place for very rich visitors. Prince Rainier wanted to build more hotels and attract more tourists. They argued for several years. In 1967, Onassis sold his shares in SBM to the state of Monaco and left the country.
Oil Deals in Saudi Arabia
In the 1950s, during a time when oil was becoming very important, Onassis was close to making a big deal with the King of Saudi Arabia. This deal would have allowed his tankers to transport Saudi oil.
The American government was concerned about this deal. They wanted American oil companies to keep their control over Saudi oil. Because of this, the US government worked to stop the agreement between Onassis and Saudi Arabia.
Leading Olympic Airways
In 1956, Greek airlines were having financial problems. The Greek government decided to let private companies take over. On July 30, 1956, Onassis signed a contract to run the Greek air transport industry. He named his new airline Olympic Airways.
Operations began in 1957. The airline grew quickly, carrying many passengers. Onassis was very proud of owning an airline. He called it his "mistress" compared to the sea, which was his "wife."
Onassis's time leading Olympic Airways is seen as a great period. He invested in training and bought modern airplanes. For example, in 1959, he bought four Comet 4B jets. He also paid close attention to service quality. He even bought gold-plated utensils for first-class dining.
By 1974, Olympic Airways carried 2.5 million passengers. Onassis was one of only two people in the world to own a private airline. The other was Howard Hughes of TWA. Onassis ended his contract with the Greek government in December 1974 due to various challenges.
Diverse Investments
Onassis had many different investments. About one-third of his money was in oil companies. These companies were in the United States, the Middle East, and Venezuela. He also owned shares that gave him control of 95 international businesses. These businesses were spread across five continents.
He owned gold-processing plants in Argentina and Uruguay. He had a large share in an airline in Latin America. He also had $4 million invested in Brazil. His companies included Olympic Maritime and Olympic Tourist. He owned a chemical company in Persia.
He had apartments in Paris, London, Monte Carlo, Athens, and Acapulco. He also owned a castle in South France. He financed the Olympic Tower, a tall building in New York City. And, of course, he owned Olympic Airways.
His most famous possessions included the island of Skorpios and his luxury yacht, the Christina O. He also had money in 217 banks around the world.
Project Omega in Greece
In October 1968, Onassis announced "Project Omega." This was a huge investment plan for Greece, worth $400 million. It aimed to build important industrial facilities, like an oil refinery.
Onassis worked with the Greek government at the time for this project. The project had financial support from an American bank. However, the project faced challenges. It was eventually divided between Onassis and his business rival, Stavros Niarchos.
Relationships and Family Life
Marriage to Athina Livanos
Onassis married Athina Mary "Tina" Livanos on December 28, 1946. Tina was 17, and Onassis was 40. They had two children: a son, Alexander (born 1948), and a daughter, Christina (born 1950). Onassis named his famous super-yacht after his daughter.
His marriage to Athina was very important to Onassis. It helped him achieve his goals and also showed his success to his father-in-law, who was a traditional Greek shipping leader. The couple divorced in June 1960.
Relationship with Maria Callas
Onassis had a long relationship with the famous opera singer Maria Callas. They met in 1957 at a party in Venice. Onassis later said they were the two most famous Greeks in the world at that time. Their relationship continued for many years.
Marriage to Jacqueline Kennedy
Onassis was a friend of Jacqueline Kennedy. She was the widow of U.S. President John F. Kennedy. They married on October 20, 1968, on Onassis's private Greek island, Skorpios.
Onassis offered Mrs. Kennedy money to replace her trust fund, which she would lose by remarrying. After Onassis's death, she would receive money each year for the rest of her life. Onassis's daughter, Christina, did not like Jacqueline Onassis. After Alexander Onassis died, Christina tried to convince her father that Jacqueline brought bad luck.
After Onassis's death, Christina and Jacqueline reached an agreement about Onassis's will. During their marriage, the couple lived in six different homes. These included apartments in New York City and Paris, houses in Athens and on Skorpios, and his yacht, the Christina O.
Death and Lasting Legacy
Aristotle Onassis passed away at age 69 on March 15, 1975. He died at the American Hospital of Paris in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. He had been suffering from a health condition called myasthenia gravis.
Onassis was buried on his private island of Skorpios in Greece, next to his son, Alexander. In his will, Onassis created a charitable foundation to honor his son. This foundation, the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation, received 45% of his wealth. The rest of his estate went to his daughter, Christina.
Christina's share later passed to her only child, Athina. This made Athina one of the wealthiest women in the world at the time. Jacqueline Onassis also received a part of the estate.
See also
In Spanish: Aristóteles Onassis para niños
- Greek shipping
- Skorpios
- Christina O
- Stavros Niarchos
Images for kids
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Onassis, 1932
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Olympic Airways Boeing 707, 1973
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Olympic Tower in New York City, financed by Onassis.
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Onassis at age 64 in 1970
