Philippe Niarchos
Encyclopedia
Philip Niarchos was born in 1954, the eldest son of the Greek
shipping
magnate
Stavros Niarchos
(1909–1996) and Eugenia Livanos
(1926–1970), herself the elder daughter of Stavros Niarchos
' rival Stavros G. Livanos
(1891–1963).
estimated his net worth at GBP 850 million, or about $1.687 billion US at that exchange rate of that time. Alongside his younger brother, Spyros, Niarchos is Co-President and member of the Board of Directors
at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation
. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees at the Museum of Modern Art
in New York City
. He is an International Council Member of London
's Tate Gallery
.
's self-portrait Yo, Picasso, which the father had bought in 1989 for $47,850,000.
Philip Niarchos has made plenty of additions to his father's legacy. He was suspected as being the anonymous buyer of Vincent van Gogh
's "Self-Portrait," at a November 1998 Christie's
auction; it sold for $71.5 million. He was certainly at the auction and was revealed as the anonymous buyer of Jean-Michel Basquiat
's 1982 Self-Portrait, which closed at $3.3 million., In 1994, he bought Andy Warhol
's Red Marilyn, at Christie's
for $3.63 million. Andy Warhol
's skull portraits are from Niarchos' CAT scan. Warhol completed these works in 1985, using silkscreens made from CAT-scan films of the skull of Philip Niarchos, who commissioned the artist to paint his portrait. Niarchos is mentioned throughout The Andy Warhol Diaries
. Warhol shares details of the dysfunctional relationship Niarchos had with the divorced and widowed socialite Barbara (née Tanner) de Kwiatkowski. Her married name was Barbara Allen at the time of her relationship with Niarchos; now she is the widow of Henryk de Kwiatkowski
.
In 1984, Niarchos married thirdly Victoria Christina Guinness
(b. 30 January 1960), daughter of Patrick Benjamin Guinness (of the non-aristocratic branch of the renowned brewery family
). Although now divorced, Niarchos and Guinness have two sons and two daughters.
Niarchos was a first cousin of the late heiress Christina Onassis
whose mother Athina Livanos
(1929–1974) was a younger sister of his own mother and later became his father's last wife. Therefore, he is a second cousin of Athina Onassis de Miranda
.
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
shipping
Shipping
Shipping has multiple meanings. It can be a physical process of transporting commodities and merchandise goods and cargo, by land, air, and sea. It also can describe the movement of objects by ship.Land or "ground" shipping can be by train or by truck...
magnate
Magnate
Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...
Stavros Niarchos
Stavros Niarchos
Stavros Spyros Niarchos was a Greek shipping tycoon, sometimes known as "The Golden Greek." In 1952, Stavros Niarchos built the first supertankers capable of transporting large quantities of oil, and subsequently earned millions of dollars as global demand for his ships increased.- Early life :He...
(1909–1996) and Eugenia Livanos
Eugenia Livanos
Eugenia Livanos was the third wife of Stavros Niarchos.She was the daughter of shipping magnate Stavros G. Livanos and his wife Arietta Zafirakis. Her sister was Athina Livanos, the wife successively of Aristotle Onassis and Stavros Niarchos. In 1947 she married Stavros Niarchos...
(1926–1970), herself the elder daughter of Stavros Niarchos
Stavros Niarchos
Stavros Spyros Niarchos was a Greek shipping tycoon, sometimes known as "The Golden Greek." In 1952, Stavros Niarchos built the first supertankers capable of transporting large quantities of oil, and subsequently earned millions of dollars as global demand for his ships increased.- Early life :He...
' rival Stavros G. Livanos
Stavros G. Livanos
Stavros George Livanos was a native of Chios. He was the founder of the Livanos shipping empire and was a rival as well as father-in-law to both Aristotle Onassis and Stavros Niarchos.- Early life :...
(1891–1963).
Inheritance and work
Philip Niarchos was reported to be 54 in 2008 when The Sunday TimesThe Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
estimated his net worth at GBP 850 million, or about $1.687 billion US at that exchange rate of that time. Alongside his younger brother, Spyros, Niarchos is Co-President and member of the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation
Stavros Niarchos Foundation
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation was established in 1996 to honor Greek shipping magnate Stavros Niarchos.- Mission :The Stavros Niarchos Foundation is an international philanthropic organization, making grants in the areas of arts and culture, education, health and medicine, and social welfare...
. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees at the Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, on 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It has been important in developing and collecting modernist art, and is often identified as the most influential museum of modern art in the world...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He is an International Council Member of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Tate Gallery
Tate Gallery
The Tate is an institution that houses the United Kingdom's national collection of British Art, and International Modern and Contemporary Art...
.
Art collector
Philip Niarchos owns his late father's art collection. The late Stavros Niarchos amassed one of the "most important collections of Impressionist and modern art in private hands." Among the collection's trophies are Pablo PicassoPablo Picasso
Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso known as Pablo Ruiz Picasso was a Spanish expatriate painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and stage designer, one of the greatest and most influential artists of the...
's self-portrait Yo, Picasso, which the father had bought in 1989 for $47,850,000.
Philip Niarchos has made plenty of additions to his father's legacy. He was suspected as being the anonymous buyer of Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh
Vincent Willem van Gogh , and used Brabant dialect in his writing; it is therefore likely that he himself pronounced his name with a Brabant accent: , with a voiced V and palatalized G and gh. In France, where much of his work was produced, it is...
's "Self-Portrait," at a November 1998 Christie's
Christie's
Christie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
auction; it sold for $71.5 million. He was certainly at the auction and was revealed as the anonymous buyer of Jean-Michel Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat was an American artist. His career in art began as a graffiti artist in New York City in the late 1970s, and in the 1980s produced Neo-expressionist painting.-Early life:...
's 1982 Self-Portrait, which closed at $3.3 million., In 1994, he bought Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol
Andrew Warhola , known as Andy Warhol, was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art...
's Red Marilyn, at Christie's
Christie's
Christie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
for $3.63 million. Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol
Andrew Warhola , known as Andy Warhol, was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art...
's skull portraits are from Niarchos' CAT scan. Warhol completed these works in 1985, using silkscreens made from CAT-scan films of the skull of Philip Niarchos, who commissioned the artist to paint his portrait. Niarchos is mentioned throughout The Andy Warhol Diaries
The Andy Warhol Diaries
The Andy Warhol Diaries is a posthumous work by the American artist Andy Warhol and was edited by his secretary Pat Hackett. Warner Books first published it in 1989 with an introduction by Hackett....
. Warhol shares details of the dysfunctional relationship Niarchos had with the divorced and widowed socialite Barbara (née Tanner) de Kwiatkowski. Her married name was Barbara Allen at the time of her relationship with Niarchos; now she is the widow of Henryk de Kwiatkowski
Henryk de Kwiatkowski
Henryk Richard de Kwiatkowski was a Polish-born member of the Royal Air Force who became an aeronautical engineer and made a fortune in business in North America and who owned Calumet Farm, one of the most prestigious Thoroughbred horse breeding and racing farms in the United States.Born in...
.
Marriage and family
Niarchos has been thrice married.In 1984, Niarchos married thirdly Victoria Christina Guinness
Victoria Niarchos
Victoria Christina Niarchos is a member of the non-aristocratic branch of the Guinness beer clan.She is a daughter of the late Patrick Benjamin Guinness and his wife , the former Dolores Guinness, Dolores Maria Agatha Wilhelmine Luise, Freiin von Fürstenberg-Hedringen Victoria Christina Niarchos...
(b. 30 January 1960), daughter of Patrick Benjamin Guinness (of the non-aristocratic branch of the renowned brewery family
Guinness family
The Guinness family is an extensive aristocratic Irish Protestant family noted for their accomplishments in brewing, banking, politics and religious ministry...
). Although now divorced, Niarchos and Guinness have two sons and two daughters.
- Stavros Niarchos Jr. (b. 17 April 1985)
- Eugenie Niarchos (b. 15 July 1986), also sometimes referred to as Eugenia
- Theodorakis (b. 3 April 1991)
- Electra (b. 5 July 1995)
Niarchos was a first cousin of the late heiress Christina Onassis
Christina Onassis
-See also:*Christina, a song dedicated to her by artist - Patty Griffin*Christina O - the Onassis family yacht, named after Christina by her father-External links:...
whose mother Athina Livanos
Athina Livanos
Athina Mary Livanos Onassis Spencer-Churchill Niarchos was the second daughter of the Greek shipping magnate Stavros Livanos. She was best known as the first wife of Aristotle Onassis, but she later married her older sister Eugenia's widower, Stavros Niarchos...
(1929–1974) was a younger sister of his own mother and later became his father's last wife. Therefore, he is a second cousin of Athina Onassis de Miranda
Athina Roussel
Athina Onassis Roussel is a French competitive show jumper and heiress. She is the only surviving descendant of her grandfather Aristotle Onassis, the Greek shipping magnate, and is of half Greek and half French descent.- Early life :...
.