Obituary of Vardis Vardinoyannis

Vardis Vardinoyannis, a prominent Greek businessman who transformed his family’s oil-refining enterprise into one of Greece’s most successful and influential companies, passed away on Tuesday in Athens at the age of 90. His family announced his demise in a statement, though they did not disclose the specific location or cause of death.

Much like two other legendary Greek entrepreneurs of the last century, Stavros Niarchos and Aristotle Onassis, Mr. Vardinoyannis (also spelled as Vardinogiannis) amassed his fortune primarily through the shipping sector, specifically in the refining and global transportation of oil and oil-derived products.

The Vardinoyannis Group, the family-owned business, commenced its journey in the mid-1960s with a singular oil refinery located in Crete. Over the years, the company expanded significantly, adding a fleet of tankers and diversifying into various sectors, including hospitality, banking, and media. Notably, Mr. Vardinoyannis acquired a controlling stake in one of Greece’s leading television stations, Star, and maintained a minority interest in another major station, Mega.

Due to the vast expanse of his business ventures, Mr. Vardinoyannis became one of the most influential figures in Europe. Despite his immense wealth and power, he consistently maintained a low profile, often presenting himself as a devoted family man. When he did appear in social columns, it was typically alongside his beloved wife, Marianna, or his son and successor in business, Giannis.

Mr. Vardinoyannis shared a profound friendship with the Kennedy family, which was particularly noteworthy. He and his wife were among the early supporters of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization, a nonprofit established to foster civic engagement and activism shortly after the tragic assassination of Senator Kennedy in 1968.