Alec N. Wildenstein
Encyclopedia
Alec Nathan Wildenstein (August 5, 1940 – February 18, 2008) was a billionaire French businessman, art dealer and racehorse owner and breeder.
, Wildenstein was raised in New York City where his family owned and operated an art gallery. In 1875, his great-grandfather founded a business dealing in art. His father, Daniel Wildenstein
, was a distinguished scholar of impressionism
whose career and dominant personality overshadowed his son's achievements. Daniel Wildenstein did not think a university education was necessary for his two sons to work in the family business. Daniel Wildenstein had a passion for racehorses, which his son shared.
Upon his father's death in 2001, Alec Wildenstein inherited half of a business empire estimated at $10 billion USD and included what was believed to be the world's largest private collection of major works of art.
s for flat
and steeplechase
and standardbreds for harness racing
. His Ecurie Wildenstein racing stable hired Elie Lellouche
and Dominique Sepulchre to train his flat horses, and Jean-Paul Gallorini and Marcel Rolland for his steeplechase runners. Wildenstein raced a number of successful horses including:
In 2004, Wildenstein's steeplechase runner, Kotkijet, owned in partnership with Jean-Pierre Dubois, won his second Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris
.
. In 1985, the family acquired complete ownership. He met Jocelyne Périsset (born abt 1946) when she was a guest at Ol Jogi Ranch and they were married on April 30, 1978. They had a daughter, Diane, followed by a son, Alec. Jr. Their divorce proceedings between 1997 and 1999 gained wide media coverage for revelations about the couple's extravagant spending habits and Jocelyn Wildenstein's fondness for plastic surgery
. Alec was forced to pay her $2.5 billion upon the settlement and $100 million each year for the next 13 years. Their two children received over $10 billion in cash, art and real estate; they also control the 20 billion dollar art empire.
Wildenstein died at age 67 in 2008 of prostate cancer
. He is survived by his two children and his second wife, Liouba Stoupakova, a native of Russia
whom he married in 2000. Liouba Stoupakova received nothing from his estate.
Biography
Born in MarseilleMarseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
, Wildenstein was raised in New York City where his family owned and operated an art gallery. In 1875, his great-grandfather founded a business dealing in art. His father, Daniel Wildenstein
Daniel Wildenstein
Daniel Leopold Wildenstein was a French art dealer and scholar, as well as a leading thoroughbred race horse owner and breeder....
, was a distinguished scholar of impressionism
Impressionism
Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement that originated with a group of Paris-based artists whose independent exhibitions brought them to prominence during the 1870s and 1880s...
whose career and dominant personality overshadowed his son's achievements. Daniel Wildenstein did not think a university education was necessary for his two sons to work in the family business. Daniel Wildenstein had a passion for racehorses, which his son shared.
Upon his father's death in 2001, Alec Wildenstein inherited half of a business empire estimated at $10 billion USD and included what was believed to be the world's largest private collection of major works of art.
Horse racing
Alec Wildenstein enjoyed thoroughbredThoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
s for flat
Flat racing
Flat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles...
and steeplechase
Steeplechase
Steeplechase may refer to:* Steeplechase, an event in horse racing* SteepleChase, a Danish jazz label* Steeplechase , a 1975 arcade game released by Atari...
and standardbreds for harness racing
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
. His Ecurie Wildenstein racing stable hired Elie Lellouche
Elie Lellouche
Elie Lellouche is a French trainer of Thoroughbred racehorses and jockeys.After having modest success as a jockey, in 1979 Lellouche obtained his horse trainer's license...
and Dominique Sepulchre to train his flat horses, and Jean-Paul Gallorini and Marcel Rolland for his steeplechase runners. Wildenstein raced a number of successful horses including:
- Bright Sky – won the Prix de DianePrix de DianeThe Prix de Diane, sometimes referred to as the French Oaks, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies...
, Prix de l'OpéraPrix de l'OpéraThe Prix de l'Opéra is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early October.The event was established in 1974, and it was... - AquarellisteAquarellisteAquarelliste is an French Thoroughbred filly racehorse. Owned and bred by Daniel Wildenstein, she was sired by Danehill, a Leading sire in Australia as well as in France and Great Britain & Ireland. She was out of the mare Agathe, a daughter of Manila, the 1986 Breeders' Cup Turf winner voted...
– won Prix VermeillePrix VermeilleThe Prix Vermeille is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.-History:The event was established in 1897, and it...
, Prix de Diane, Prix GanayPrix GanayThe Prix Ganay is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,100 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late April or early May.... - WesternerWesterner (horse)Westerner is a French-owned Champion Thoroughbred racehorse who competed successfully at racing venues across Europe. Bred by a Wildenstein family holding company, Westerner was raced by Alec Wildenstein. Trained by Elie Lellouche, in 2003 and 2004 in France he won back-to-back editions of the...
– won Ascot Gold CupAscot Gold CupThe Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
, Prix du CadranPrix du CadranThe Prix du Cadran is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 4,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early October....
, Prix Royal-OakPrix Royal-OakThe Prix Royal-Oak is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 3,100 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late October.-History:The event was established in 1861, and it was initially...
, 2004 & 2005 European Champion StayerCartier Racing AwardThe Cartier Racing Awards are awards in European horse racing, founded in 1991, and sponsored by Cartier jewelers. The award winners are decided by points earned in group races plus the votes cast by British racing journalists and readers of the Racing Post and Daily Telegraph newspapers.Eight... - Vallee EnchanteeVallée EnchantéeVallée Enchantée is a retired thoroughbred racehorse bred in Ireland and trained in France. She won Hong Kong Vase and two group race in 2003. She is a very small along other thoroughbreds. Her weight only 813 ponds when she won Hong Kong Vase.- References :*Racing stats at *...
– won the Hong Kong VaseHong Kong VaseThe Hong Kong Vase is a Group 1 flat horse race in Hong Kong which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 2,400 metres at Sha Tin, and it is scheduled to take place each year in mid December....
In 2004, Wildenstein's steeplechase runner, Kotkijet, owned in partnership with Jean-Pierre Dubois, won his second Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris
Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris
The Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris is a Group 1 steeplechase in France which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Auteuil over a distance of 5,800 metres , and during its running there are twenty-three fences to be jumped...
.
Personal life
In 1977, his family purchased a 49% stake for Wildenstein in the 66000 acres (267.1 km²) Ol Jogi Ranch on the Laikipia Plateau in KenyaKenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. In 1985, the family acquired complete ownership. He met Jocelyne Périsset (born abt 1946) when she was a guest at Ol Jogi Ranch and they were married on April 30, 1978. They had a daughter, Diane, followed by a son, Alec. Jr. Their divorce proceedings between 1997 and 1999 gained wide media coverage for revelations about the couple's extravagant spending habits and Jocelyn Wildenstein's fondness for plastic surgery
Plastic surgery
Plastic surgery is a medical specialty concerned with the correction or restoration of form and function. Though cosmetic or aesthetic surgery is the best-known kind of plastic surgery, most plastic surgery is not cosmetic: plastic surgery includes many types of reconstructive surgery, hand...
. Alec was forced to pay her $2.5 billion upon the settlement and $100 million each year for the next 13 years. Their two children received over $10 billion in cash, art and real estate; they also control the 20 billion dollar art empire.
Wildenstein died at age 67 in 2008 of prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
. He is survived by his two children and his second wife, Liouba Stoupakova, a native of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
whom he married in 2000. Liouba Stoupakova received nothing from his estate.