{{Short description|French banker (1963–2021)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Benjamin de Rothschild | image = Benjamin de Rothschild 22.jpg | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = Benjamin Edmond Maurice Adolphe Henri Isaac de Rothschild<ref name="wsj 11611327601"/> | birth_date = {{birth date|1963|7|30|df=y}} | birth_place = Neuilly-sur-Seine, France | death_date = {{death date and age|2021|01|15|1963|07|30|df=y}} | death_place = Pregny-Chambésy, Switzerland | education = Pepperdine University | employer = | occupation = Banker | height = | spouse = {{Marriage|Ariane Langner|1999}} | children = 4 | parents = Edmond Adolphe de Rothschild (1926–1997)<br/>Nadine Lhopitalier (b. 1932) | relatives = }}
'''Benjamin de Rothschild''' (30 July 1963 – 15 January 2021) was a French banker, the owner of the Edmond de Rothschild Group from 1997 until his death in 2021. He was the son of Edmond Adolphe and Nadine de Rothschild. He was married to Ariane de Rothschild. In 2001, he created the professional offshore sailing racing team Gitana Team.
In 2021, ''Forbes'' estimated his fortune was worth $1.4 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dawkins |first=David |date=19 January 2021 |title=Billionaire Benjamin De Rothschild, Heir To Storied Banking Fortune, Dies At 57 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddawkins/2021/01/19/billionaire-benjamin-de-rothschild-heir-to-banking-fortune-dies-at-57/ |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>
== Family == {{see also|Rothschild family|Rothschild banking family of France}}Benjamin de Rothschild was a seventh-generation descendant of the dynasty founder Mayer Amschel.<ref name="haaretz 1.5135495">{{cite web|author1=Eytan Avriel|author2=Guy Rolnik|date=5 November 2010|title=Family Values|url=https://www.haaretz.com/1.5135495|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518123335/https://www.haaretz.com/1.5135495|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 May 2018|access-date=6 March 2020|website=Haaretz.com}}</ref> He was the great-grandson of Edmond James de Rothschild and Adelheid von Rothschild, the grandson of Maurice de Rothschild and Noémie Halphen, and the only child of Edmond Adolphe and Nadine (née Lhopitalier) de Rothschild.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Rothschild Genealogy|url=https://www.rothschildarchive.org/genealogy/ |access-date=16 January 2021|publisher=The Rothschild Archive}}</ref> His father was from a Jewish family and his mother converted to Judaism. He was also the great-great-great-grandson of Sephardi-Jew of Portuguese descent Jacob Rodrigues Pereira, being son of Edmond Adolphe and grandson of Noémie de Rothschild.
== Early life == Benjamin Edmond Maurice Adolphe Henri Isaac de Rothschild<ref name="wsj 11611327601"/> was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine<ref>{{cite news|title=Benjamin et David de Rothschild, cousins ennemis|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/m-gens-face-a-face/article/2015/04/20/benjamin-et-david-de-rothschild-cousins-ennemis_4619148_4497214.html|first=Laurent|last=Telo|date=16 April 2015|access-date=16 January 2021|newspaper=Le Monde|location=Paris}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> on 30 July 1963.<ref>{{cite news|title=Baron Benjamin de Rothschild dies at 57 after suffering heart attack|url=https://www.jpost.com/international/baron-benjamin-de-rothschild-dies-at-57-after-suffering-heart-attack-655662|first=Tobias|last=Siegal|date=16 January 2021|access-date=16 January 2021|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref> He studied at the Swiss Institut Florimont and held a BA in Business Management from Pepperdine University.<ref name="haaretz 1.5135495" />
== Banking == {{See also|Edmond de Rothschild Group}} After his graduation, de Rothschild worked in family-owned banks in California.<ref name="haaretz 1.5135495" /> In 1989, he returned to Europe, worked for a while at British Petroleum in London, and then launched the Compagnie de Trésorerie Benjamin de Rothschild, specializing in advanced financial risk management.<ref name="wsj 11611327601">{{Cite news |last=Hagerty |first=James R. |date=2021-01-22 |title=Benjamin de Rothschild Carried On a Banking Tradition in Europe |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/benjamin-de-rothschild-carried-on-a-banking-tradition-in-europe-11611327601 |access-date=2022-09-13 |issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Group Edmond de Rothschild|url=https://www.rothschildarchive.org/business/group_edmond_de_rothschild/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170626153209/https://www.rothschildarchive.org/business/group_edmond_de_rothschild/|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 June 2017|access-date=6 March 2020|website=Rothschildarchive.org}}</ref>
After the death of his father in 1997, de Rothschild succeeded him as chairman of the Compagnie Financière Edmond de Rothschild.<ref>{{cite news|last=Prial|first=Frank J.|date=4 November 1997|title=Baron Edmond de Rothschild, 71, French Financier, Dies|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/04/business/baron-edmond-de-rothschild-71-french-financier-dies.html?pagewanted=all|access-date=26 April 2010}}</ref> He restructured the group's organization around key activities such as asset management and mergers and acquisitions.<ref>{{cite web|date=5 July 2002|title=Benjamin veut rajeunir la banque de son père, Edmond|url=https://www.lesechos.fr/2002/07/benjamin-veut-rajeunir-la-banque-de-son-pere-edmond-1056140|access-date=6 March 2020|website=Lesechos.fr|language=fr}}</ref> In 1999, he launched Edmond de Rothschild Investment Services in Israel<ref>{{cite web|author=Orna Raviv|date=18 November 1999|title=Rothschilds Return|url=https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-379849|access-date=6 March 2020|website=Globes.co.il}}</ref> where he also succeeded his father at the helm of the Caesarea Rothschild Foundation.<ref>{{cite web|title=CEO's Greeting|url=https://www.caesarea.com/en/home/community-and-residents/education-and-religion/104-english-category/rothschild-caesarea|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200418105326/https://www.caesarea.com/en/home/community-and-residents/education-and-religion/104-english-category/rothschild-caesarea|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 April 2020|access-date=6 March 2020|website=Caesarea.com}}</ref> In 2010, Compagnie Financière Edmond de Rothschild became the Edmond de Rothschild Group.<ref>{{cite web|date=4 January 2010|title=Changement de nom et nouveau blason|url=https://www.edmond-de-rothschild.com/site/suisse/fr/actualites/group/176-changement-de-nom-et-nouveau-blason|access-date=6 March 2020|website=Edmond-de-rothschild.com|language=fr}}</ref>
In March 2015, de Rothschild named his wife Ariane de Rothschild CEO of the group, and chairwoman of the executive committee.<ref>{{cite web|author=Chad Bray|date=14 January 2015|title=Edmond de Rothschild Group Names Chairman's Wife as C.E.O.|url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2015/01/14/edmond-de-rothschild-group-names-chairmans-wife-as-c-e-o/|access-date=6 March 2020|website=The New York Times}}</ref> In 2016, all the lifestyle-oriented assets of the group were reorganized under the Edmond de Rothschild Heritage label.<ref>{{cite web|date=19 January 2017|title=Edmond de Rothschild Heritage: an entrepreneurial laboratory, Edmond de Rothschild|url=https://www.edmond-de-rothschild.com/site/International/en/news/rothschild-heritage/8879-edmond-de-rothschild-heritage--an-entrepreneurial-laboratory|access-date=6 March 2020}}</ref> In March 2019, the Benjamin de Rothschild family made the Edmond de Rothschild Group 100% privately owned. The group's French bank was consolidated within the Swiss bank which subsequently became the group's main holding structure. Ariane de Rothschild became chairman of the new group.<ref>{{cite web|date=13 March 2019|title=Benjamin de Rothschild family to take private bank Edmond de Rothschild private|url=https://www.wealthadviser.co/2019/03/13/273934/benjamin-de-rothschild-family-take-private-bank-edmond-de-rothschild-private|access-date=6 March 2020|website=Wealthadviser.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=James Beech|date=22 March 2019|title=Family takes Edmond de Rothschild Bank private|url=http://www.campdenfb.com/article/family-takes-edmond-de-rothschild-bank-private|access-date=6 March 2020|website=Campdenfb.com}}</ref>
==Sailing== thumb|Bow of ''Gitana 16'' In 2000, Benjamin de Rothschild purchased the {{convert|62|ft|adj=on}} ''Elf Aquitaine'' and founded the professional sailing team Gitana Team, walking in the footsteps of his family's traditions, but eventually expanding it to multihull sailboats.<ref>{{cite news|date=18 November 2002|title=Rothschild takes pleasure in sailing|work=CNN|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/sailing/11/18/rothschild.ppl/|access-date=26 April 2010}}</ref><ref name="gitana saga">{{cite web|title=Gitana, a legendary saga|url=http://www.gitana-team.com/en/legende.php|access-date=6 March 2020|website=Gitana-team.com|archive-date=20 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920170824/http://www.gitana-team.com/en/legende.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> The team's first trimaran was the ''Gitana IX'' (former ''Elf Aquitaine''), followed by the ''Gitana X'', entirely developed by the team.<ref>{{cite web|author=Philippe Echelle|date=November 2018|title=We sailed aboard the Ultim foiling trimaran Gitana17:Edmond de Rothschild, Multi Hulls|url=https://www.multihulls-world.com/folders-catamaran-trimaran/we-sailed-aboard-the-ultim-foiling-trimaran-gitana17edmond-de-rothschild|access-date=6 March 2020}}</ref> The ''Gitana 11'' won the Route du Rhum in 2006.<ref name="gitana saga" />
In 2015, the team mounted foiling dagger boards and T-rudders on a Multi One Design 70 ft to make it "fly" over water, after a decision a year earlier to build a new, state-of-the-art yacht.<ref>{{cite web|author=Toby Hodges|date=30 July 2015|title=VIDEO: The first foiling MOD70 – Gitana Team's Edmond de Rothschild flies during her first trials!|url=https://www.yachtingworld.com/news/video-the-first-foiling-mod70-gitana-teams-edmond-de-rothschild-flies-during-her-first-trials-66373|access-date=6 March 2020|website=Yachtingworld.com}}</ref> On 17 July 2017, the 32×23-meter Maxi Edmond de Rothschild (''Gitana 17'') was introduced, the offshore racing's first maxi-multihull designed to fly in the open ocean.<ref>{{cite web|date=3 April 2017|title=Gitana unveils Maxi Edmond De Rothschild|url=http://www.asia-pacificboating.com/news/2017/04/gitana-unveils-maxi-edmond-de-rothschild|access-date=6 March 2020|website=Asia-pacificboating.com|archive-date=6 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206071611/http://www.asia-pacificboating.com/news/2017/04/gitana-unveils-maxi-edmond-de-rothschild|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was decorated by the street artist Cleon Peterson.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jacques Guyader|date=20 July 2017|title=Ariane de Rothschild, la baronne, Cleon Peterson, le graffeur et les voiles guerrières|url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/culture/arts/ariane-de-rothschild-la-baronne-cleon-peterson-le-graffeur-et-les-voiles-guerrieres-5144774|access-date=6 March 2020|website=Ouest-france.fr|language=fr}}</ref> The Maxi won the 48th edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race in August 2019, breaking the record set in 2011 by Loïck Peyron (''Banque Populaire V'')<ref>{{cite web|date=4 August 2019|title=Rolex Fastnet Race 2019: Win for Maxi Edmond de Rothschild|url=https://www.catsailingnews.com/2019/08/rolex-fastnet-race-2019-win-for-maxi-edmond-de-rothschild.html|access-date=6 March 2020|website=Catsailingnews.com}}</ref> and the Brest Atlantiques in December 2019 (skippers Charles Caudrelier-Franck Cammas for both races).<ref>{{cite web|date=2 December 2019|title=Brest Atlantiques - Maxi Edmond de Rothschild under the 1,000-mile barrier!|url=https://www.sail-world.com/news/224633/Brest-Atlantiques--Under-the-1000-mile-barrier|access-date=6 March 2020|website=Sail-world.com}}</ref>
== Vineyards and farms == {{See also|Edmond de Rothschild Heritage}} [[File:Samaniego - Bodegas Benjamín Rothschild-Vega Sicilia 4.jpg|thumb|Bodegas Benjamín Rothschild-Vega Sicilia, Samaniego, Spain]] Benjamin de Rothschild inherited the Château Clarke wine estate purchased by his father in 1973. He renovated the fermentation room<ref>{{cite web|date=17 September 2018|title=Fine Wine Importer Wilson Daniels & Edmond de Rothschild Heritage Announce New Distribution Partnership|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fine-wine-importer-wilson-daniels--edmond-de-rothschild-heritage-announce-new-distribution-partnership-300713344.html|access-date=6 March 2020|website=Prnewswire.com}}</ref> and hired the oenologist Michel Rolland in 1998 to perfect the Château's vines and supervise the family's new vineyard ventures in South Africa and Argentina.<ref>{{cite web|author=Per-Henrik Mansson|date=25 January 1999|title=Chateau Clarke Turns to Consultant for Help|url=https://www.winespectator.com/articles/chateau-clarke-turns-to-consultant-for-help-20159|access-date=6 March 2020|website=Winespectator.com}}</ref><ref name="winespectator 132">{{cite web |author=Per-Henrik Mansson |date=6 December 2000 |title=The Richest Rothschild |url=https://www.winespectator.com/articles/the-richest-rothschild-132 |access-date=6 March 2020 |website=Winespectator.com}}</ref>
In 1997, Benjamin de Rothschild initiated a joint venture with Anton Rupert to create the ''Rupert & Rothschild Vignerons'' vineyards in South Africa.<ref>{{cite web|date=27 November 2019|title=Great Families of Cape Wine: Rupert & Rothschild Vignerons|url=https://starwinelist.com/wine-story/great-families-of-cape-wine-rupert-and-rothschild-vignerons|access-date=6 March 2020|website=Starwinelist.com}}</ref> He gathered wine enthusiasts (including Laurent Dassault) to create the wine estate ''Le Clos de los Siete'' in Argentina's Uco Valley, producer of the ''Flechas de los Andes'' wine.<ref>{{cite web|author=Lucy Jenkins|date=22 November 2016|title=Bordeaux Liquid Gold takes on Flechas de los Andes|url=https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2016/11/bordeaux-liquid-gold-takes-on-flechas-de-los-andes/|access-date=6 March 2020|website=Thedrinksbusiness.com}}</ref> In 2003, he acquired the Château des Laurets vineyards in Bordeaux.<ref>{{cite web|date=17 April 2009|title=Château des Laurets Cuvée Baron Edmond 2004|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/lefigaromagazine/2009/04/18/01006-20090418ARTFIG00063--chateau-des-laurets-cuvee-baron-edmond-2004-.php|access-date=6 March 2020|website=Lefigaro.fr|language=fr}}</ref> In 2005, he launched ''Champagne Barons de Rothschild'' with Baron Éric de Rothschild and Baroness Philippine de Rothschild.<ref>{{cite web|author=Adam Montefiore|date=15 November 2018|title=Wine Talk: Five arrows, three Rothschilds, one champagne|url=https://www.jpost.com/Magazine/Five-arrows-three-Rothschilds-one-champagne-572005|access-date=6 March 2020|website=Jpost.com}}</ref> In 2009, he launched a joint venture with the Spanish winery Vega Sicilia.<ref>{{cite web|title=Benjamin de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia|url=https://www.spanishwinelover.com/230-winerie-benjamin-de-rothschild-&-vega-sicilia|access-date=6 March 2020|website=Spanishwinelover.com}}</ref> In 2012, he acquired {{Convert|26|ha}} of vines in the Marlborough Region of New Zealand to produce the ''Rimapere'' wine.<ref>{{cite web|author=Rupert Millar|date=30 August 2017|title=8. Benjamin de Rothschild|url=https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2017/08/frances-top-10-richest-drinks-industry-players/4/|access-date=6 March 2020|website=Thedrinksbusiness.com}}</ref> Benjamin de Rothschild was the largest stakeholder in the Château Lafite Rothschild wine estate.<ref>{{cite web|author=Elin McCoy|date=2 November 2018|title=Spain's Best Winemaker Is on the Move. Here Are What Bottles to Buy|url=https://www.bloombergquint.com/pursuits/vega-sicilia-spain-s-ultimate-red-is-making-rioja-with-a-rothschild|access-date=6 March 2020|website=Bloomberg.com}}</ref>
The baron and his wife were the owners of {{lang|fr|La Ferme des 30 Arpents}} in the countryside outside of Paris, which produces brie de Meaux AOC.<ref>{{cite web|author=Margaret Kemp|date=4 November 2016|title=A bucolic oasis for cheese connoisseurs just outside Paris|url=https://howtospendit.ft.com/food-drink/108961-a-bucolic-oasis-for-cheese-connoisseurs-just-outside-paris|access-date=6 March 2020|website=Ft.com}}</ref>
==Personal life== Benjamin de Rothschild had heroin abuse problems for many years.<ref name="Chaudhuri 1999">{{cite web |last=Chaudhuri |first=Anita |date=1999-06-02 |title=Poor little rich boys |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/poor-little-rich-boys-1097744.html |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=The Independent}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-02 |title=Edmond de Rothschild: All Eyes on Ariane |url=https://www.finews.com/news/english-news/44853-ariane-de-rothschild-edmond-de-rothschild-edmond-de-rothschild-wealth-management |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=finews.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> On 23 January 1999, Benjamin de Rothschild married Ariane Langner. They had four daughters.<ref name="haaretz 1.5135495" /> Ariane de Rothschild is not Jewish and did not convert to Judaism.<ref>{{cite web |title=Looking for leadership |url=https://m.jpost.com/features/in-thespotlight/looking-for-leadership}}</ref> Benjamin was an avid car collector who bought Formula 1 Ferraris from the official racing team<ref name="haaretz 1.5135495" /> (he was a member of the "F1 Clienti" program<ref>{{Cite web|title=Inside Ferrari's private stable for the super wealthy|url=https://jalopnik.com/inside-ferraris-private-stable-for-the-super-wealthy-5824366|access-date=2022-01-29|website=Jalopnik|date=25 July 2011 |language=en-us}}</ref>) and also owned a Ferrari California.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Top 50 Expensive Billionaire Rothschild Family Purchases|url=https://vocal.media/families/top-50-expensive-billionaire-rothschild-family-purchases|access-date=2022-01-29|website=Families|language=en}}</ref> He bought the engine of the crashed Concorde (Air France Flight 4590) and commissioned an artist to turn it into a work of art.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miguet |first=Francois |date=2018-05-31 |title=Le flambeur, la tradeuse, le faiseur de présidents... les petits secrets de famille Rothschild |url=https://www.capital.fr/entreprises-marches/les-petits-secrets-de-la-famille-rothschild-1290667 |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=Capital.fr |language=fr}}</ref>
His family wealth ranked 22nd on ''Challenges''{{'}} 2019 list of French fortunes,<ref>{{cite web |date=3 July 2019 |title=#22 Benjamin de Rothschild |url=https://www.challenges.fr/classements/fortune/benjamin-de-rothschild-et-sa-famille_527 |access-date=6 March 2020 |website=Challenges.fr |language=fr}}</ref> 43rd on ''Bilan''{{'s}} 2019 list of Swiss fortunes,<ref>{{cite web |date=2019 |title=43. Famille Benjamin de Rothschild |url=https://www.bilan.ch/300plusriches/famille-benjamin-de-rothschild |access-date=6 March 2020 |website=Bilan.ch}}</ref> and 1349th on ''Forbes''{{'}} 2019 list of world billionaires.<ref name="forbes1">{{cite web |title=Benjamin de Rothschild |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/benjamin-de-rothschild |access-date=6 March 2020 |website=Forbes.com}}</ref> He was considered one of the richest members of the Rothschild family.<ref name="winespectator 132" /> He was the owner of a hôtel particulier on rue de l'Élysée in Paris.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Roques |first=Jean-Baptiste |date=2021-01-18 |title=Ariane de Rothschild : Qui est la femme à la tête de la banque Edmond de Rothschild ? |url=https://www.vanityfair.fr/pouvoir/politique/articles/banque-rothschild-ariane-de-rothschild/25215 |access-date=2022-09-13 |magazine=Vanity Fair |language=fr-FR}}</ref>
== Death == On 15 January 2021, Benjamin de Rothschild suffered a heart attack and died at his home in Pregny-Chambésy, Switzerland. He was 57.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-16/edmond-de-rothschild-holding-chairman-has-died-at-57|title=Edmond de Rothschild Holding's Chairman Dies at 57|date=16 January 2021|first1=Blaise|last1=Robinson|first2=Jeff|last2=Black|access-date=16 January 2021|publisher=Bloomberg}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Benjamin de Rothschild dies of heart attack at 57|url=https://www.ft.com/content/efbb44a9-78b7-42a8-904d-a4ed4421c159|first=Victor|last=Mallet|date=16 January 2021|access-date=16 January 2021|newspaper=Financial Times|location=London}}</ref> His wife Ariane de Rothschild became the sole manager of the family business.<ref>(in French) [https://paris-match.ch/ariane-de-rothschild/ Ariane de Rothschild, la banquière de Genève]. Paris Match. 15 March 2021</ref>
== See also == * Edmond de Rothschild Group * Ariane de Rothschild * Rothschild family
==References== {{Reflist}}
== Further reading == * {{cite book|author=Diane Elisabeth Poirier|title=Gitana: 140 Years of Rothschild Yachting History|date=November 2016|publisher=Harry N. Abrams|isbn=978-1419722806}} * {{cite book|author1=Camille Meyer-Léotard|title=L'art du geste, engagement et passion de Benjamin et Ariane Rothschild|author2=Erik Orsenna|date=21 November 2009|publisher=Beaux Livres|isbn=978-2845973602|language=fr}}
==External links== * [http://www.edmond-de-rothschild.com/ Edmond de Rothschild Group website] * [http://www.gitana-team.com/ Gitana Team website]
{{Rothschilds}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rothschild, Benjamin De}} Category:1963 births Category:2021 deaths Category:20th-century French Jews Benjamin Category:French bankers Category:French billionaires Category:French people of Portuguese-Jewish descent Category:20th-century French philanthropists Category:French viticulturists Category:Pepperdine University alumni Category:Swiss bankers Category:Swiss billionaires Category:Swiss philanthropists Category:21st-century French philanthropists