Stavros G. Livanos
Stavros George Livanos (Greek: Σταύρος Λιβανός; 1891–1963), a native of Chios, was the founder of the Livanos shipping empire and was a rival as well as father-in-law to billionaire Greek shipping tycoons Aristotle Onassis and Stavros Niarchos.
Early life
Livanos was born and died on Chios, a third-generation sailor.[1] The third of four sons of steamship owner George Livanos, he turned the outbreak of the First World War into opportunities.[1] Even during the postwar demise of the shipping boom, Livanos managed to stay on top by investing only with cash instead of credit.[1] He was notoriously tight with his money, a claim that the late Stavros Niarchos remembered as accurate.,[1][2] Confirming his reputation for high cash-investment in his ships, Livanos once said, "I have no money. I have ships."[3]
Marriage and descendants
In 1924, he married Arietta Zafirakis (1909–1986) and had three children:[1]
- Eugenia Livanos, (1926–1971), married Stavros Niarchos in 1947
- Athina Mary Livanos (1929–1974), married firstly Aristotle Onassis, secondly John Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough and thirdly Stavros Niarchos (her former brother in law).
- George S. Livanos (born 1935)
The Livanos family lived in London most of the time. It was in London during the First World War that Livanos built the foundation of his empire. Yet they also had a lavish villa, known as Bella Vista, on Chios.[1]
He is the great-grandfather of Athina Roussel Onassis de Miranda and of Stavros Niarchos III the ex-boyfriend of Paris Hilton
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Gage, Nicholas: Greek Fire: The Story of Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis, ISBN 978-0-446-61076-6
- ↑ The Life of Stavros Livanos
- ↑ Hadjipateras, Costas N.: The Greek Maritime Spirit: "The Creek Shipowner"
