Prince Rupert Loewenstein facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rupert, Prince of Loewenstein, Count of Löwenstein-Scharffneck
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| Born |
Rupert Louis Ferdinand Frederick Constantine Lofredo Leopold Herbert Maximilian Hubert John Henry zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg
24 August 1933 Palma, Majorca, Spanish Second Republic
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| Died | 20 May 2014 (aged 80) London, England
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| Other names | "Rupie the Groupie" |
| Occupation | Merchant banker |
| Known for | The Rolling Stones' business adviser and financial manager, 1968–2007 |
| Spouse(s) | Josephine Clare Lowry-Corry |
| Children | Rudolf, Prince zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg, Konrad, Prince zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg Maria Theodora Marjorie, Princess zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg, now Contessa della Gherardesca |
| Parent(s) | Leopold, Prince zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg and Countess Bianca Fischler von Treuberg |
Rupert, Prince of Löwenstein (born August 24, 1933 – died May 20, 2014) was a Spanish-born nobleman from Bavaria, Germany. He became famous as the financial manager for the legendary rock band, The Rolling Stones, for nearly 40 years.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Rupert came from a very old and important family in Germany. He was born in Palma, Majorca, Spain. His parents were Leopold, Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg, and Countess Bianca Fischler von Treuberg.
In 1940, when Rupert was young, he and his mother moved to England. He went to St Christopher School in Letchworth. Later, he studied history at Magdalen College, Oxford, a famous university.
Working in Banking
After finishing school, Rupert Loewenstein started his career as a stockbroker. A stockbroker helps people buy and sell parts of companies called stocks.
In 1963, he joined a group that bought a special kind of bank called a merchant bank. This bank, Leopold Joseph & Sons, helped businesses with big money deals. Rupert became a director there.
The bank grew a lot under his leadership. It started giving advice on company mergers and helping with currency trading. In 1981, Rupert left to start his own company, Rupert Loewenstein Ltd. He preferred working with "new money" clients, meaning people who had recently become rich. He found them more interesting.
Managing The Rolling Stones
Rupert Loewenstein was the business and financial adviser for The Rolling Stones from 1968 to 2007. He met Mick Jagger, the band's lead singer, through a friend. At the time, the band felt their manager was not paying them fairly.
Rupert is often given credit for turning The Rolling Stones into a huge "global brand." He helped them become one of the richest bands in the world. He did this by giving them smart financial advice.
For example, he helped them leave an old contract that paid them very little. He also advised them to move to the south of France to save money on taxes. He set up companies in the Netherlands to manage their earnings. He even suggested they rehearse in Canada instead of the United States to lower their tax bills.
Keith Richards, the band's guitarist, explained that the tax rate in the UK in the 1970s was very high. Rupert advised them to become "non-resident" to avoid these high taxes. Rupert also made sure the band's famous red tongue logo was legally protected. He also helped them get big companies like General Electric to sponsor their tours.
Richards said that the band didn't make serious money until they started touring huge venues in the 1980s. Rupert reorganized their finances so they wouldn't be cheated out of their earnings. He helped them get more money from ticket sales and merchandise. Richards praised Rupert's financial skills, saying he played the market like Richards played guitar.
Rupert Loewenstein never got involved in the band's music. He preferred classical music and never chose to listen to The Rolling Stones. If he had to listen to rock and roll, he preferred The Beatles. Keith Richards confirmed that Rupert didn't like rock and roll and thought music was made with a pen and paper, like Mozart.
Rupert's daughter, Princess Dora Loewenstein, wrote about her experiences growing up around The Rolling Stones.
Personal Life and Family
On July 18, 1957, Rupert Loewenstein married Josephine Clare Lowry-Corry. They had three children together. Two of their sons, Rudolf and Konrad, became Catholic priests. Their daughter, Maria Theodora, is known as Dora.
The family lived in Petersham Lodge in London. This large house was built in the early 1700s. Rupert bought it in 1987.
In 2001, Rupert Loewenstein was named to the International Best-Dressed Hall of Fame.
His Catholic Faith
Rupert Loewenstein was a strong supporter of the traditional Latin Mass in the Catholic Church. He was also active in several Catholic groups. He was a Grand Inquisitor of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George. He also led the British association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
His Autobiography
In 2013, Rupert Loewenstein wrote a book about his life called A Prince Among Stones: That Business with The Rolling Stones and Other Adventures. The book shared details about the band's money matters.
Mick Jagger was reportedly not happy about the book. He said that he didn't think an ex-bank manager should talk about his clients' financial and personal information in public.
Death
Rupert Loewenstein passed away in London on May 20, 2014, at the age of 80. He died from problems related to Parkinson's disease.
See also
- List of alumni of Magdalen College, Oxford
- List of people from London
