The bride with tears in her eyes, the groom seemingly in a continuous interview loop: the flamboyant Austrian building contractor Richard Lugner has married for the sixth time.
The flamboyant Austrian building contractor Richard Lugner (91) has married for the sixth time. Both he and his bride Simone Reiländer (42) said “I do” in Vienna’s town hall.
The senior, known for his own production with a prominent companion at the Vienna Opera Ball, had previously provided all interested media with all the details and was heard in interviews on a continuous loop almost up until the wedding. His wife was also in the spotlight: with cameras in the hotel room, she had her make-up and hair done and showed off her long white wedding dress – including the name of the shop where she had bought it.
The longed-for kiss
Lugner and Reiländer, who is 49 years younger, sat hand in hand in front of the registrar at around 2 p.m. A few dozen friends and many photographers were there. Reiländer wiped tears from her face, moved. The bride was getting married for the first time. After saying “I do” and exchanging rings, there was the usual kiss. “We are chained to each other,” said Lugner. Lugner had said beforehand that he just doesn’t like being alone, which is why he is getting married again. He has four children from previous relationships. The eldest son could be the father of his new bride. He was born in 1963. “It will be the last marriage,” said Lugner before the ceremony.
Reiländer works as deputy branch manager in a hardware store. That’s why there is no honeymoon, as Lugner said, because she has to be back in the store on Tuesday. But she has quit her job. He says he wants to promote Reiländer to a high-ranking position in his company in the summer. Lugner runs a shopping center in Vienna, among other things.
The unloved nickname
He often called her “Bienchen” in interviews, just as he had given his other five wives names like Mausi, Hasi and similar. In an interview, Lugner admitted that Reiländer does not like the nickname. He wanted to respect that.
Lugner was asked in one of his countless interviews whether he was happy. “Happiness is something exuberant,” he replied. “For me, contentment is the more normal thing. I have been content all my life.” And then this: “I don’t regret anything. I forget everything that is negative.”
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
