Aristotle Onassis was one of the most famous and wealthy men in the world. He built a shipping empire that rivaled the navies of many countries, and he married two of the most glamorous women of his time: Tina Livanos and Jacqueline Kennedy. But his life was also marked by tragedy, scandal, and illness. How did he die, and what legacy did he leave behind?
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The Rise of a Shipping Magnate
Aristotle Onassis was born in 1906 in Smyrna, a port city in Anatolia that was then part of the Ottoman Empire. His family was of Greek origin and had a prosperous tobacco business. However, in 1922, Smyrna was burned and looted by Turkish forces, and the Onassis family lost everything. They fled to Greece as refugees, and Aristotle moved to Argentina in 1923 with only $60 in his pocket.
He started working as a tobacco trader, and soon expanded his business to other commodities. He also became interested in shipping, and bought his first ship in 1932. He took advantage of the Second World War to acquire more ships at low prices, and by the end of the war, he had one of the largest fleets in the world. He specialized in oil tankers, and made lucrative deals with Saudi Arabia and other oil-producing countries.
Onassis was known for his ruthless and innovative business tactics, such as creating flags of convenience for his ships to avoid taxes and regulations. He also had a flamboyant and extravagant lifestyle, spending millions on yachts, art, jewelry, and parties. He was friends with celebrities, politicians, and royalty, and he had a reputation as a womanizer.
The Love Triangle with Maria Callas and Jackie Kennedy
Onassis married his first wife, Tina Livanos, in 1946. She was the daughter of another Greek shipping tycoon, Stavros Livanos, and they had two children: Alexander and Christina. However, their marriage was unhappy, and Onassis had many affairs. One of them was with Maria Callas, a famous opera singer who became his mistress in 1959.
Callas was considered one of the greatest sopranos of all time, and she had a passionate and turbulent relationship with Onassis. They traveled together on his yacht, the Christina, named after his daughter, and they planned to marry. However, Onassis shocked the world when he married Jacqueline Kennedy in 1968.
Kennedy was the widow of John F. Kennedy, the former president of the United States who was assassinated in 1963. She was one of the most admired and influential women in the world, and she sought protection and privacy from Onassis after her husband’s death. Onassis offered her a lavish lifestyle and a share of his fortune, but their marriage was also unhappy and full of conflicts.
Onassis never divorced Callas, and he continued to see her secretly until his death. He also had other affairs with younger women, such as Fiona Thyssen and Christina Ford. He treated Kennedy poorly, often ignoring her or humiliating her in public. He also clashed with her children, John Jr. and Caroline, who disliked him and his lifestyle.
The Death of His Son and His Own Illness
Onassis faced another tragedy in 1973, when his son Alexander died in a plane crash at the age of 24. Alexander was Onassis’s heir and protégé, and he had a close bond with him. He was also a pilot who loved flying. He died when his plane crashed into the ground near Athens airport during a test flight.
Onassis was devastated by his son’s death, and he blamed himself for it. He also blamed Kennedy for not attending Alexander’s funeral, as she stayed in New York with her children. He became depressed and isolated himself from his family and friends. He also suffered from myasthenia gravis, a disease that weakened his muscles and affected his vision.
He spent his last years on his private island of Skorpios in Greece, where he had married Kennedy. He died there on March 15th 1975 at the age of 69 from respiratory failure caused by pneumonia. He was buried next to his son on the island.
His Legacy and Controversy
Onassis left behind a fortune estimated at $500 million at the time of his death (about $2 billion today). He also left behind a complex legal battle over his will and estate. He had made several versions of his will during his life, changing them according to his mood or situation.
His last will left most of his estate to his daughter Christina, who became one of the richest women in the world. He also left some money to Kennedy (who later renounced it), Callas (who died two years later), and his sister Artemis. He also created a foundation in his son’s name, the Alexander S. Onassis Foundation, which supports cultural and educational projects in Greece and abroad.
However, his will was contested by several parties, including his former wife Tina (who died in 1974), his half-sister Kalliroi, and his former employees and associates. The legal disputes lasted for decades, and involved multiple lawsuits, trials, and appeals in various countries. Some of the cases are still unresolved today.
Onassis’s life and death have also inspired many books, films, documentaries, and biographies. Some of them portray him as a visionary and a genius, while others depict him as a villain and a crook. He remains one of the most controversial and fascinating figures of the 20th century.
