Benjamin de Rothschild, Owner of Edmond de Rothschild Group, Dies of Heart Attack

French Baroness Nadine de Rothschild (R) and his son Benjamin visit on June 4, 1991 the Musée du Louvre in Paris. Photo by Michel Clement/AFP via Getty Images

Notable Swiss financier and philanthropist Baron Benjamin de Rothschild died on Friday afternoon of a heart attack at the age of 57, according to the Edmond De Rothschild webpage.

“It is with deep regret and great sadness that Edmond de Rothschild Group announces the passing of Benjamin de Rothschild following a heart attack at his home in Pregny (Switzerland) in the afternoon of 15 January 2021,” states the group’s page. The statement also described some of his achievements and values.

“Visionary entrepreneur, passionate about finance, speed, sailing and automobiles, wine enthusiast, Benjamin de Rothschild was also an active philanthropist, namely involved in developing innovation within the Adolphe de Rothschild Foundation Hospital. With his unique character, Benjamin de Rothschild never ceased to transform and modernise his legacy, in line with the family’s values,” reads the press release.

Sail-World also reported his passing. The Gitana team expressed their condolences and remembered his contribution to sailing.

“Thanks to his commitment, Benjamin de Rothschild enabled a whole generation of sailors to express themselves on the finest boats of the time, as is the case right now for the crew of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, currently in the midst of an attempt to secure the round the world sailing record, the Jules Verne Trophy,” wrote the Gitana team.

French-Swiss banker, the founder of the Edmond de Rothschild Group, Baron Edmond de Rothschild and his wife, former actress Nadine Tallier in Paris, France, on Oct. 20, 1987. Patrick Hertzog/AFP via Getty Images

The Chateau de Pregny, also known as the Rothschild Castle, where the statement says he spent his final moments, is an estate owned by the family since the 19th century. It is located in the proximity of Lake Geneva.

According to Financial Times, he left behind a business worth $194 billion that employs 2,600 people across the world. The business started in 1953.

The former head of Russian energy company Rosneft, Sergei Bogdanchikov, accused Edmond de Rothschild of participating in a kickback scheme in October 2020.

According to Haarets.com, the deceased philanthropist’s father was a well-known Zionist and donor to Israel, Baron Edmond de Rothschild.

Benjamin is a seventh-generation successor of the Rothschild dynasty founder, Mayer Amschel Rothschild. The French branch of the family was the 22nd richest in 2019 in France and 43rd in Switzerland.