Margarita Louis-Dreyfus Entrepreneur, billionaire, chairman of Louis Dreyfus. Date of Birth: 01.06.1962 Country: Switzerland

Margarita Louis-Dreyfus: A Biography

Margarita Bogdanova, a French businesswoman of Russian origin, could hardly have imagined in her childhood that she would become the richest Russian woman in the world. After receiving a proper education and moving abroad, Bogdanova became the wife of a successful businessman. Following his tragic death, she took charge of her late husband's company and achieved remarkable results. Born as Margarita Bogdanova in Leningrad, she grew up in a relatively modest family. Unfortunately, she became an orphan at the age of 10 after her parents died in a train accident. Margarita received her higher education in Russia, studying law at Moscow State University and earning a degree in economics from the Leningrad Institute of Soviet Trade.

In the 1980s, Margarita Bogdanova met a Swiss student, which led to a romance and eventually marriage. She moved to Zurich, Switzerland, where she found a job as an assistant at a trading company. The details of her first marriage and its dissolution remain unclear, but she did not remain single for long. In 1988, during a flight from Zurich to London, Margarita met Robert Louis-Dreyfus. They married in 1992, and Margarita left her job at an electronic circuits company to become a wife and mother. The couple had their first child, Eric, in 1992, followed by twins Maurice and Kirill in 1998.

In 2009, Margarita's husband Robert passed away from leukemia. After his death, she took over as the chairperson of the Louis Dreyfus Group and became the owner of the Marseille football club, Olympique. Margarita quickly assumed control of the conglomerate and made significant business moves, such as selling the company's energy business in October 2012. She also brought the firm to public markets, issuing securities worth $350 million in Singapore, marking the first time in its 160-year history.

Margarita Louis-Dreyfus is determined to continue expanding the company. She has allocated approximately $7 billion for mergers and acquisitions projects over the next five years. Margarita plans to involve her three children in the management of the business. With operations in 53 countries worldwide, the Louis-Dreyfus Group is set to be a substantial inheritance for her children. Margarita claims that her dying husband asked her to preserve and grow their wealth, ensuring that the company remains one of the industry's major players.

Entering the world of big business, traditionally dominated by men, was not an easy task for Margarita. However, she demonstrated that gender has no influence on one's ability to succeed in business. She remains one of the most successful entrepreneurs worldwide, skillfully carrying out the last wishes of her late husband. As of 2014, Margarita Louis-Dreyfus was valued at $9.6 billion. In March 2015, she was ranked as the third wealthiest person in Switzerland, an impressive feat considering the country's overall prosperity. Additionally, Margarita is known as the richest woman born in Russia. At that time, she held Swiss citizenship, was a mother of three, and resided in Zurich, according to Forbes. Margarita Louis-Dreyfus is also known for her multilingual abilities, speaking Russian, French, English, Italian, and German.