Aristotle Onassis

Date of Birth: January 15, 1906

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: March 15, 1975

Biography

Aristotle Socrates Onassis was a Greek shipping magnate who was one of the most famous and richest men in the world during his time. Born into a middle-class family in Smyrna (now Izmir, Turkey), Onassis endured the hardships of the Greco-Turkish War and the subsequent population exchange between Greece and Turkey. Facing adversity, he emigrated to Argentina in 1923, where he started his career as a tobacco trader. Onassis had an uncanny ability to foresee opportunities in the maritime industry. He purchased his first vessels at rock-bottom prices during the Great Depression, laying the foundation for what would become a vast shipping empire. By the 1950s, he owned the largest privately-owned shipping fleet in the world. Apart from his shipping enterprises, Onassis also ventured into other industries, including airlines. He founded the successful Olympic Airways in 1957. Onassis was also known for his high-profile relationships, including his marriage to Jacqueline Kennedy, the widow of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, in 1968. Onassis’s life was marked by immense success but also significant personal tragedies, including the death of his son Alexander in a plane crash. He passed away in 1975 due to respiratory failure, leaving behind a legacy that continues to intrigue and inspire.

5 Interesting Facts about Aristotle Onassis

1. Onassis started his career with just $60, shipping tobacco from Argentina to Greece.

2. During World War II, Onassis made substantial profits by leasing his ships to the Allies.

3. He famously converted old Liberty ships into luxury liners, revolutionizing the shipping industry.

4. Onassis was a major player in the jet age; he founded Olympic Airways, the national airline of Greece.

5. He had a long-standing rivalry with fellow shipping magnate Stavros Niarchos, which was the stuff of legends.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Aristotle Onassis

1. “It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.”

2. “The secret of business is to know something that nobody else knows.”

3. “We must free ourselves of the hope that the sea will ever rest. We must learn to sail in high winds.”

4. “To be successful, keep looking tanned, live in an elegant building, even if you are in the cellar. Be seen in smart restaurants, even if you nurse one drink, and if you borrow, borrow big.”

5. “I have no friends and no enemies—only competitors.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Aristotle Onassis’s net worth was estimated to be around $500 million, equivalent to billions in today’s dollars.

Children

Aristotle Onassis had two children: 1. Alexander Onassis (1948-1973) – His son, who tragically died in a plane crash. 2. Christina Onassis (1950-1988) – His daughter, who inherited a substantial portion of his fortune.