Robert Louis-Dreyfus (14 June 1946 – 5 July 2009) was a French-Swiss businessman. Louis-Dreyfus was chairman and CEO of the Louis Dreyfus Group, a global conglomerate founded by his great-grandfather Léopold Louis-Dreyfus in 1851. He was also the owner of the Olympique de Marseille football club from 1996 until his death.
Biography
Robert Louis-Dreyfus was born in Paris on 14 June 1946. He was the son of French financier and industrialist Pierre Louis-Dreyfus and American actress Edith Madison. He had two brothers, Philippe and Jean-Louis.
Louis-Dreyfus attended the Lycée Janson de Sailly in Paris and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He graduated from MIT in 1968 with a degree in chemical engineering.
After graduating from MIT, Louis-Dreyfus joined the Louis Dreyfus Group, which was then headed by his uncle, René. He worked in various positions within the company, including as head of its trading operations in Brazil and Argentina.
In 1986, Louis-Dreyfus was appointed chairman and CEO of the Louis Dreyfus Group. Under his leadership, the company expanded its operations into new markets, including China and India. He also oversaw the acquisition of several other companies, including the Brazilian sugar producer Copersucar and the Dutch trading company Nidera.
In addition to his business career, Louis-Dreyfus was also a major figure in the world of football. He was the owner of the Olympique de Marseille football club from 1996 until his death. Under his ownership, Marseille won the UEFA Champions League in 1993 and the French league championship four times.
Louis-Dreyfus died in Zurich on 5 July 2009, at the age of 63. He had been suffering from leukemia for several years.
Personal life
Robert Louis-Dreyfus was married twice. His first marriage, to Margarita Bogdanov, ended in divorce. He married his second wife, Margarita Louis-Dreyfus, in 1982. They had three children:
* Julia Louis-Dreyfus (born 1958), an American actress best known for her roles on the sitcoms Seinfeld and The New Adventures of Old Christine
* Maurice Louis-Dreyfus (born 1962), a French businessman
* Mathieu Louis-Dreyfus (born 1970), a French businessman
Legacy
Robert Louis-Dreyfus was a successful businessman and a major figure in the world of football. He was a generous philanthropist who supported a wide range of charitable causes. He was also a loving husband and father.
Louis-Dreyfus's legacy will continue to inspire others for years to come. He was a true visionary who was always looking for new opportunities and challenges. He was also a man of great integrity and compassion. He will be remembered as a great businessman, a great sportsman, and a great humanitarian.