Yiannis Latsis Greek entrepreneur, ship owner Date of Birth: 14.09.1910 Country: Greece

1. Biography of Yiannis Latsis
2. Fleet Career
3. Expansion into Other Industries
4. Royal Connections
5. Famous Clients and Recognition
6. Legacy

Biography of Yiannis Latsis

Yiannis Latsis was a Greek entrepreneur and shipowner who gained widespread recognition for his wealth, connections, and extensive philanthropic activities. He was born in the fishing village of Katakolo in the Elis region of Greece. He was the seventh of 21 children of Spiro Latsis and Aphrodite Efthimiou.

Fleet Career

Yiannis Latsis started his maritime career as a simple deckhand and steadily climbed the career ladder to eventually become the captain of a trading ship. He purchased his first cargo ship in 1938, and by the 1960s, he had built an entire fleet of ships.

Expansion into Other Industries

In the late 1960s, Yiannis Latsis decided that he wanted to explore beyond just cargo transportation. He ventured into the oil industry, supplying oil and constructing oil refineries. He then expanded into banking and financial consulting. One of his notable accomplishments was the establishment of the 'European Financial Group,' which owned banks in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Monaco, Greece, and the Channel Islands.

Royal Connections

In 1990, Yiannis Latsis was entrusted with leading an economic conference for the G7 at Bridgewater House in Westminster, London. He was known to be a close friend of Charles, Prince of Wales, and even loaned his yacht to Prince Charles twice, for his honeymoon with Princess Diana and for a cruise with Camilla Parker-Bowles.

Famous Clients and Recognition

Yiannis Latsis's list of celebrities who borrowed his ships extended beyond the British royal family. Notable figures such as George H. W. Bush, Colin Powell, and Marlon Brando also utilized his vessels. He also maintained close ties with members of the Saudi Arabian royal family. In 2003, Forbes magazine ranked Yiannis Latsis as the 101st richest person, with an estimated fortune of around $5.4 billion.

Legacy

Despite starting his career as a deckhand, Yiannis Latsis managed to build an impressive business empire. He operated in various sectors, including oil, construction, aviation, railways, and transportation networks. Yiannis Latsis was honored with the Golden Cross from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Grand Cross of the Order of the Phoenix.