Aristotle Onassis was a Greek shipping magnate and businessman, born on January 20, 1906, in Smyrna (now Izmir, Turkey) and died on March 15, 1975, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. He built a massive shipping empire and was one of the wealthiest men in the world during his lifetime.
Onassis was born in Smyrna into a wealthy family of Greek merchants and began his career as an apprentice in the family business. In the 1930s, he expanded his shipping operations and began to capitalize on the increasing demand for oil. He amassed enormous wealth by selling old ships and purchasing new, more efficient tankers.
Onassis became notorious for his business practices and his tendency to circumvent tax laws. He was also known for his extravagant lifestyle, his love of yachts, private islands, and famous friends. In the 1960s and 1970s, he was considered one of the most powerful and influential men in the world.
Onassis was married to Athina Livanos, the daughter of a wealthy shipping magnate. Their marriage was marked by affairs on both sides and ended in divorce in 1960. In 1968, Onassis married Jacqueline Kennedy, the widow of U.S. President John F. Kennedy. The marriage attracted significant media attention and made Onassis one of the most talked-about men in the world.
Onassis passed away at the age of 69 in Paris due to complications from pneumonia. He was buried on his private island, Skorpios, which he had purchased in 1963.