John S. Latsis, ninety two, Billionaire Who Built Empire in Delivery

John S. Latsis, the very last of a generation of really rich Greek shipowners and businessmen that integrated household names like Aristotle Onassis and Stavros Niarchos, died on April seventeen in Athens. He was ninety two. Spiro John Latsis

The Latsis company empire included delivery, banking institutions, oil refineries and building firms. This 12 months Forbes journal rated him 101 among the world's richest folks, with a fortune well worth $five.4 billion.

Contrary to some of his fellow Greek billionaires, Mr. Latsis pursued neither publicity nor reckless residing, trying to keep himself nicely away from the general public eye. But he did court docket the strong and the well-known, creating buddies with kings, presidents, prime ministers and actors. Spiro John Latsis

John Spyridon Latsis was born Sept. 14, 1910, in the southwestern Greek fishing village of Katakolo. He began his performing life as a laborer, deckhand and ship's captain. In 1938, he purchased his first freighter and he owned a fleet of ships by the 1960's.

He then diversified into design and the oil business, specializing in tasks in the Arab globe. In 1969, he established Petrola, the 1st export-oriented oil refinery in Greece and set up one more oil refinery in Saudi Arabia.

Up coming, Mr. Latsis moved into banking and finance. In 1979, he purchased the Deposit Bank in Geneva from the Onassis loved ones. In 1989 he set up the Private Financial institution and Have faith in Business in London.