A very well-known surname in the industry, although not only because of its heritage, but also because of its bad fortune.
The Merieux family has 127 years of history in the health and science industryalthough they are also known for being marked by the tragedy of prematurely losing family members from their beginnings to the last generation in charge. That’s why some people refer to them as “the curse.”
He founder of the laboratory was Marcel Mérieuxborn in 1870 into a wealthy family that made its fortune manufacturing silk. As a young man, Marcel left the family business in 1897 to found the Marcel-Meriéux Biological Institute in Lyon, which at the time focused on tuberculosis research. At the end of the First World War, the company settled in Marcy-l’Etoile.
Merieux Institute
Who is Alain Mérieux
Currently, who is in command of the empire is the oldest living member of the family, Alain Mérieux, who had the misfortune of having to bury two of his children. He was also related to French politics. He was regional councilor of Rhône-Alpes between 1986 and 2001 and councilor between 1995 and 2001 for the conservative and neo-Gaullist Rally for the Republic.
The successful businessman married Chantal Berliet, daughter of an important industrialist. From their union Rodolphe, Christophe and Alexandre Mérieux were born, children of the fourth generation of the family. Rodolphe was born in 1969 and was chosen by his father to continue with the leadership of the empire, because Christophe, who was the eldest of the 3 brothers, took another path away from the medical focus.
But On July 17, 1996, a tragic event occurredTWA Flight 800 had an accident and crashed off the coast of New York, killing Rodolphe and all passengers on board. Because of the accident, Alain asked Christophe to abandon his medical studies to run the company, but just 10 years later he died of a heart attack before turning 40 years of age.
What is the curse of the Mérieux family
The curse that this powerful family carries is that of unexpected deathsdue to various accidents of its members who are positioned to lead the company. Jean Mérieux was Alain’s uncle and also died in the laboratory at the age of 27. Then it was Rodolphe’s turn in the aforementioned accident and finally Christophe with a heart attack 10 years later.
In addition, Alain’s oldest son had also suffered a kidnapping at the age of 9, which terrified him and made him want to get away from the industry, until he returned at his father’s request after his brother’s death.
How much is Alain Mérieux’s net worth today?
Currently, Alain Mérieux is president of Institut Mérieux and his youngest son, Alexander, serves as vice president of the company. The assets held by the family are 6.4 billion dollars according to Forbes Magazine, and are ranked 417th among the world’s billionaires.
Source: Ambito
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