{{short description|Businessman; Founder and Chairman of Signa Holding Advisory Board}} {{use American English|date=September 2021}} {{use dmy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = René Benko | image = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1977|05|20}} | birth_place = Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria | occupation = Real estate, media and retail investor | years_active = 1999–present | known_for = Founder of Signa Holding | term = 2013–present | spouse = | children = 4 | website = {{URL|1=https://www.signa.at/en/company/|2=Profile at SIGNA Group}} }}
'''René Benko''' (born 20 May 1977) is a bankrupt Austrian real estate, media and retail investor, and founder of Signa Holding, considered to be Austria's largest privately held real estate conglomerate.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Signa Holding GmbH - Company Profile and News|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/3500752Z:AV|access-date=2021-10-17|website=Bloomberg.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Tuma|first=Thomas|date=2021-03-25|title=Immobilien: Benkos Geldregen: Signa Holding meldet überraschend hohen Gewinn|trans-title=Real estate: Benko's windfall: Signa Holding reports surprisingly high profit|url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/finanzen/immobilien/immobilien-benkos-geldregen-signa-holding-meldet-ueberraschend-hohen-gewinn/27036708.html|access-date=2021-10-17|website=Handelsblatt|language=de}}</ref> Benko was regarded as one of the richest Austrians and had close relations with leading politicians from all political parties in Austria.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vichtl |first=Wolfgang |title=Welche Verbindungen René Benko zur Politik pflegte |url=https://www.tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/weltwirtschaft/rene-benko-signa-politik-osterreich-100.html |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=tagesschau.de |language=de}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|date=2018-07-26|title=Die 100 reichsten Österreicher 2018|language=de|trans-title=The 100 richest Austrians 2018|work=Trend|url=https://www.trend.at/wirtschaft/ranking-reichste-oesterreicher-10238309|access-date=2018-11-13|archive-date=1 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601070429/https://www.trend.at/wirtschaft/ranking-reichste-oesterreicher-10238309|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Rene Benko|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/rene-benko/|access-date=2020-10-29|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref> Numerous controversies have surrounded Benko’s professional career. In March 2024, Benko declared personal insolvency.<ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-07/signa-founder-benko-files-for-personal-insolvency-in-austria ''Signa Founder Benko Files for Personal Insolvency in Austria'']. Bloomberg, 7 Mar 2024</ref>
In April 2024, the Liechtenstein public prosecutor's office announced that it had initiated criminal proceedings against Benko.<ref>[https://www.krone.at/3332053 Liechtenstein opens criminal proceedings against Benko, Kronen Zeitung], 11.04.2024</ref> In Italy, the local public prosecutor's office in Trento issued an arrest warrant for Benko in December 2024 and searched a number of his private offices and apartments. Italian authorities justified their actions based on ongoing investigations of real estate speculation by Benko in the province of Trentino and in neighboring South Tyrol.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Italiens Justiz erlässt Haftbefehl gegen Signa-Gründer Benko |url=https://www.tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/haftbefehl-benko-italien-100.html |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=tagesschau.de |language=de}}</ref>
On 23 January 2025, Benko was arrested. The Austrian Central Office for the Prosecution of Economic Crimes and Corruption (''German:'' Wirtschafts- und Korruptionsstaatsanwaltschaft) stated that his arrest was related to suspicion of fraud and corruption as well as the risk of obfuscation.<ref>[https://www.tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/festnahme-benko-100.html ''Signa-Gründer Benko in Österreich festgenommen'']</ref><ref>orf.at: [https://orf.at/stories/3382845/ ''U-Haft über Benko verhängt'']</ref><ref>www.justiz.gv.at: [https://www.justiz.gv.at/lg-fuer-strafsachen-wien/landesgericht-fuer-strafsachen-wien/medienstelle/pressemitteilungen/untersuchungshaft-ueber-rene-benko-verhaengt.f7f.de.html ''Untersuchungshaft über Rene BENKO verhängt ''] (press release, 24 January 2025)</ref>{{Clarify|reason=Whatever does "obfuscation" possibly mean?|date=October 2025}}
On 15 October 2025 Benko was sentenced to two years' imprisonment in Austria for financial fraud.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Client Challenge |url=https://www.ft.com/content/a614507f-9493-4626-adef-a0c51ee13a78 |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=www.ft.com}}</ref>
== Life == Benko was born in Innsbruck, Tyrol, the son of a local government employee and a nursery schoolteacher.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Putzier|first=Konrad|date=2019-07-23|title=Meet the Other Man Who Bought the Chrysler Building|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/meet-the-other-man-who-bought-the-chrysler-building-11563879601|access-date=2021-10-17|issn=0099-9660}}</ref> At the age of 17 he gained his first experience of the real estate sector in a building company owned by an acquaintance.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|date=2018-11-14|title=Der Herr über Wolkenkratzer, Kaufhäuser - und jetzt auch Zeitungen|url=https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/rene-benko-eigner-von-wolkenkratzern-kaufhaeusern-und-nun-auch-zeitungen-a-1238389.html|access-date=2021-10-17|work=Der Spiegel|language=de}}</ref>
Benko lives mainly in Innsbruck. He has married twice and has four children. Otherwise, little is known of Benko's private life.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2018-11-12|title=Rene Benko - Tiroler Selfmade-Milliardär mit Hang zum Luxus|trans-title=Rene Benko - Tyrolean self-made billionaire with a penchant for luxury|url=https://www.diepresse.com/5453597/rene-benko-tiroler-selfmade-milliardar-mit-hang-zum-luxus|access-date=2021-09-16|website=Die Presse|language=de}}</ref>
Part of his assets are held by Benko's private foundation, named "Laura" after his daughter Laura.
In 2024, Benko was forced to sell his private yacht, ''Roma''.<ref>[https://www.leadersnet.at/news/81161,auf-rene-benkos-ehemaliger-luxus-yacht-kann-man-jetzt-urlaub.html ''Auf René Benkos ehemaliger Luxus-Yacht kann man jetzt Urlaub machen'']</ref> It had been estimated in 2023 to be worth around 40 million euros.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Vichtl |first=Wolfgang |title=Welche Verbindungen René Benko zur Politik pflegte |url=https://www.tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/weltwirtschaft/rene-benko-signa-politik-osterreich-100.html |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=tagesschau.de |language=de}}</ref>
In June 2021, Benko's foundation purchased a Picasso painting, ''L'Étreinte'' (1969).<ref>[https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6328179 www.christies.com]</ref> The foundation authorised the New York–based auction house Sotheby's in October 2024 to sell the work; it was purchased in January 2025 for about 11 million euros.<ref>[https://www.derstandard.de/story/3000000253119/rene-benkos-picasso-unter-wert-fuer-elf-millionen-euro-unter-wert-verkauft ''René Benkos Picasso unter Wert für elf Millionen Euro verkauft'']</ref>
== Network == Before his bankruptcy, Benko maintained an extensive network of contacts in Austrian politics. Alfred Gusenbauer, former SPÖ chancellor, said he was friends with Benko. He was a member of the advisory board of Signa Holding. Susanne Riess-Hahn, former FPÖ vice chancellor, was also on Signa Holding's advisory board.<ref name=":1" />
== Business activities == === Foundation and first investments === [[File:Innsbruck-KaufhausTyrol-Front.jpg|thumb|Kaufhaus Tyrol department store]] At the end of 1999, Benko founded the two-person company Immofina Holding, renamed Signa Holding in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2006-02-23|title=Immobilien-Shootingstar Benko: aus "Immofina" wird "Signa"|trans-title=Real estate shooting star Benko: "Immofina" becomes "Signa|url=https://www.fondsprofessionell.at/news/produkte/headline/immobilien-shootingstar-benko-aus-immofina-wird-signa-85725/|access-date=2021-10-16|website=fondsprofessionell.at|language=de}}</ref>
The company's first projects included the extension of attics into luxury apartments and the profitable purchase and sale of the health hotel Lanserhof in the Austrian city of Lans.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jensen|first=Sören|date=2013-11-22|title=Portrait René Benko: Bubenstück - was Benko vorhat|trans-title=Portrait René Benko: Jack of all trades - what Benko is up to|url=https://www.manager-magazin.de/magazin/artikel/a-942839.html|access-date=2021-09-16|website=Manager Magazin|language=de}}</ref> After these successes, the Viennese entrepreneur Karl Kovarik, who inherited several gas stations, contributed to the first financial jump-start with 25 million euros.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-28|title=René Benko - der Mann hinter der Globus-Übernahme|trans-title=René Benko - the man behind the Globus takeover|url=https://www.finanzen.ch/nachrichten/finanzplanung/rene-benko-der-mann-hinter-der-globus-uebernahme-1028889356|access-date=2021-10-17|website=finanzen.ch|language=de}}</ref>
In 2007, Signa Holding set out to purchase 16 central-city properties from the portfolio of BAWAG P.S.K. bank and to open medical centers in Vienna. It acquired the Kaufhaus Tyrol, which was completely renovated between 2007 and 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Roscher|first=Franziska|date=2015-06-03|title=Real estate: The Slippery Mr. Benko|url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/english/companies/real-estate-the-slippery-mr-benko/23501350.html|access-date=2021-10-17|website=Handelsblatt|language=en}}</ref> The planning of the latter was carried out by the renowned architect David Chipperfield. In 2008, the former headquarters of Länderbank and Bank Austria became the property of Signa and was converted into the Park Hyatt Vienna hotel.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vienna, an exciting new chapter in the evolution of Park Hyatt Hotels|url=https://cpp-luxury.com/vienna-an-exciting-new-chapter-in-the-evolution-of-park-hyatt-hotels/|access-date=2021-10-17|website=cpp-luxury.com|language=en-US}}</ref> In 2011, the company bought the Oberpollinger department store in Munich. Furthermore, a portfolio of buildings consisting of KaDeWe and Karstadt properties was acquired in 2012. Following these investments, Signa bought the commercial businesses of KaDeWe in 2013, and Karstadt in 2014.
=== Expansion towards a holding company === On 18 June 2013, shortly before his conviction for bribery was confirmed by the Austrian criminal appeals court, René Benko retired from the operational leadership of Signa Holding and took over the chairmanship of the Advisory Board of the Signa Group.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=René Benko|url=https://www.griclub.org/member-profile/real-estate/europe/rene-benko_6389.html|access-date=2021-10-17|website=GRI Club Platform|language=en}}</ref> His bribery conviction, a suspended 12-month prison sentence, was later confirmed by the Austrian Supreme Court.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-08-11 |title=OGH bestätigt Benko-Verurteilung wegen Korruption |url=https://www.diepresse.com/3852920/ogh-bestaetigt-benko-verurteilung-wegen-korruption |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=Die Presse |language=de}}</ref>
In 2013, the new company division Signa Retail was founded. With the acquisition of the Karstadt department store chain in 2014, as well as several online and multichannel retailers, Benko's Signa Holding became a significant company in the retail sector.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2014-08-15|title=Austrian Benko buys Germany's Karstadt, set for overhaul|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-karstadt-sale-idINKBN0GF1B720140815|access-date=2021-10-17}}</ref> Since 2014, several projects were completed in Austria and other European countries. Another milestone was the approval by local referendum of the construction of the WaltherPark shopping center in Bolzano, Italy in 2016. The company made further expansions in e-commerce from 2017,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-02-28|title=WaltherPark Bozen|url=https://www.polis-award.com/teilnehmer/waltherpark-bozen-28-02-2019-1706/|access-date=2021-10-17|website=polis Award}}</ref> such as the acquisition of Probikeshop and hood.de.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-02|title=Capitalizing on the current bike boom with online retailing|url=https://www.bike-eu.com/events/nieuws/2021/08/capitalizing-on-the-current-bike-boom-with-online-retailing-10141031|access-date=2021-10-17|website=Bike Europe|language=en}}</ref>
After the purchase of the Austrian furniture chain Kika-Leiner (6,500 employees) in June 2018,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kika/Leiner property assets in Austria acquired by the Signa Group|url=https://www.lawyer-monthly.com/2018/10/kika-leiner-property-assets-in-austria-acquired-by-the-signa-group/|access-date=2021-10-17|website=Lawyer Monthly {{!}} Legal News Magazine|language=en-GB}}</ref> negotiations resumed on the acquisition of the department store chain Kaufhof in July 2018 by Signa Holding under Benko's leadership.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2019-06-11|title=Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof: Signa Holding von René Benko kauft alle Anteile|trans-title=Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof: René Benko's Signa Holding buys all shares|url=https://www.manager-magazin.de/unternehmen/handel/kaufhof-und-karstadt-rene-benko-kauft-hbc-anteile-ab-a-1271714.html|access-date=2021-10-17|website=Manager Magazin|language=de}}</ref> On 11 September, the merger of Karstadt and Kaufhof was officially confirmed.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|date=2021-01-22|title=Gigant Galeria braucht Hunderte Millionen Euro Staatskredit |url=https://www.kleinezeitung.at/wirtschaft/5926737/Rene-Benko_WarenhausGigant-Galeria-braucht-Hunderte-Millionen-Euro|access-date=2021-10-17|website=Kleine Zeitung|language=de}}</ref> Soon after this merger, the public debate around the acquisition and Benko's general business practices intensified.<ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=2022-11-09|title=Real estate mogul René Benko faces a more critical spotlight|url=https://www.ft.com/content/41efa6a7-75eb-46e4-b146-8247eb9aa793|access-date=2023-03-18|work=Financial Times|language=en}}</ref>
In November 2018, Benko's first investments in the media sector were announced with the acquisition by Signa Holding of shares in the Austrian daily newspapers ''Kronen Zeitung'' and ''Kurier''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2018-11-12|title=Zeitungsbeteiligungen: Was Benko mit "Krone" und "Kurier" vorhat|url=https://orf.at/stories/3100448/|access-date=2022-01-17|website=ORF|language=de}}</ref>
[[File:Chrysler building- top.jpg|thumb|The Chrysler Building's distinctive Art Deco crown and spire]] In March 2019, Signa Holding, together with RFR Holding, acquired New York City's famed 1930 Art Deco skyscraper the Chrysler Building for an estimated $150 million. This was Benko's first major investment in the United States.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Brumpton|first=Greg Roumeliotis, Harry|date=2019-03-09|title=Austria's Signa partners with RFR to buy New York's Chrysler Building: sources|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-property-chryslerbuilding-idUSKBN1QQ009|access-date=2021-09-16}}</ref> A month later, the Technical Commission of Italy's South Tyrol regional government approved the sale of Bolzano Airport to a company owned by Benko, Bolzano entrepreneur Josef Gostner and Strabag founder Hans Peter Haselsteiner.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-04-06|title=Flughafen an Gostner und Co. – Die Neue Südtiroler Tageszeitung|trans-title=Airport to Gostner and Co. - Die Neue Südtiroler Tageszeitung|url=https://www.tageszeitung.it/2019/04/06/flughafen-an-gostner-und-co/|access-date=2021-09-16|website=Tageszeitung Online}}</ref>
In mid-2019, Benko's Signa Holding acquired the remaining shares in Galeria Kaufhof. These had been previously held by Canadian retailer Hudson's Bay Company, which thus withdrew from the European market.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Levine-Weinberg|first=Adam|date=2019-06-11|title=Hudson's Bay Stock Soars 43% on Buyout Interest and Exit From Europe|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/hudson-apos-bay-stock-soars-112500386.html|access-date=2021-09-16|website=Yahoo Finance|language=en-US}}</ref> The French investment holding company Société Foncière, Financière et de Participations, which manages the Peugeot family's holdings, subsequently acquired a 5% stake in Signa Prime Selection for 186 million euros.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|last2=|first2=|date=2019-06-19|title=Mit 186 Millionen Euro : Gebrüder Peugeot steigen mit 5 Prozent bei Benkos Signa ein|trans-title=186 million euros: Peugeot brothers take a 5 percent stake in Benko's Signa company|url=https://www.kleinezeitung.at/wirtschaft/wirtschaftktnhp/5646765/|access-date=2021-09-16|website=Kleine Zeitung|language=de}}</ref> The Hotel Bauer Palazzo on the Grand Canal in Venice was acquired in 2020 by Benko's Signa Group, thus expanding Benko's hotel portfolio.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Anand |first1=Dev |date=2020-06-06|title=SIGNA Acquire the Bauer Hotel in Venice|url=https://thpt.co.uk/signa-acquire-the-bauer-hotel-in-venice/|access-date=2020-12-08|website=The Hotel Property Team|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Bishop|first=Adrian|date=2020-06-11|title=Hotel Bauer Palazzo in Venice has new owner|url=https://www.consorto.com/blog/hotel-bauer-palazzo-in-venice-has-new-owner/|access-date=2021-10-17|website=Consorto blog|language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2021, in a joint venture with Central Group, Signa acquired the Selfridges luxury department stores in the UK.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-26|title=Milliardendeal: Signa kauft britische Luxuskaufhauskette Selfridges|url=https://kurier.at/wirtschaft/milliardendeal-signa-kauft-britische-luxuskaufhauskette-selfridges/401853845|access-date=2022-01-17|website=Kurier|language=de}}</ref> This extended their already existing shared portfolio of luxury department stores in continental Europe. Moreover, Signa Sports United completed a business merger with Yucaipa Acquisition and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on 15 December 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Investoren hatten SPAC-Deal zuvor abgesichert: Signa Sports United ist jetzt an der Börse|url=https://www.textilwirtschaft.de/business/sports/investoren-hatten-spac-deal-zuvor-abgesichert-signa-sports-united-ist-jetzt-an-der-boerse-233805|access-date=2022-01-17|website=TextilWirtschaft|language=de}}</ref>
In 2023, Signa sold 49.9% of the KaDeWe to the Central Group.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.costar.com/article/1968261719/signa-sells-50-stake-in-berlin-department-store-to-central-group|title=Signa Sells 50% Stake in Berlin Department Store to Central Group|website=www.costar.com|date= March 13, 2023}}</ref> The Central Group then bought the KaDeWe building on April 12, 2024 from the already-insolvent Signa for 1 billion euros, announcing that it was in formal talks to acquire Signa's interest in the KaDeWe Group.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thailand's Central buys German luxury retail property KaDeWe |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/thailands-central-group-buys-kadewe-property-say-industry-sources-2024-04-12/ |access-date=28 December 2024 |website=Reuters |date=12 April 2024 |language=en}}</ref> Central officially purchased 100% of the KaDeWe Group (KaDeWe, Alsterhaus and Oberpollinger) later in the year.<ref name=":0" />
==Administration of Signa bankruptcies== In November 2023, Signa Holding's shareholders and lenders confirmed that Benko would step down from the board of directors. Signa Prime Selection GmbH was placed in receivership following an insurmountable liquidity crisis: an extraordinary debt charge of 10.3 billion euros as well as the impossibility of honoring all its loans and debt as of November 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carrà |first=Massimiliano |date=2023-11-30 |title=Chi è René Benko, il miliardario di Signa Group che vendeva attici con la promessa di un ascensore |url=https://forbes.it/2023/11/30/la-caduta-di-rene-benko-il-miliardario-di-signa-group-che-vendeva-attici/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=Forbes Italia |language=it-IT}}</ref> Most assets belonging to Signa have subsequently been sold or have entered receivership; these include Signa Sport United in the US and Kaufhof in Germany and Austria. Hamburg's immense Elbtower skyscraper, still under construction, is currently being auctioned off to various lending institutions. Benko himself is now under investigation in Austria, Germany and Italy for fraudulent bankruptcy and money laundering.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.krone.at/3157611|title=Benko: Die 10,8 Milliarden Euro Schulden der Signa|first=Manfred|last=Schumi|date=4 November 2023|newspaper=Kronen Zeitung|accessdate=2 December 2023}}</ref>
In February 2024, ''The Wall Street Journal'' reported that "appraisers valued the company’s office properties at 41 times the income they produced in 2021.... Comparable publicly traded office companies’ property portfolios were valued around 20 to 25 times income, according to Green Street, a real-estate advisory firm."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/spectacular-crash-benko-signa-c5dad285|title=The Spectacular Crash of a $30 Billion Property Empire|first1=Eliot |last1=Brown|first2= Margot|last2= Patrick |first3=Konrad|last3=Putzier|work=The Wall Street Journal|accessdate=21 March 2024}}</ref>
Meanwhile, construction has been halted on the 800-foot-high Elbtower.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MSN |url=https://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/companies/the-spectacular-crash-of-a-30-billion-property-empire/ar-BB1hZvUU |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=www.msn.com}}</ref> Signa's branding still appears on the construction site's protective fence, now heavily covered by graffiti.{{fact|date=October 2024}} The Munich-based car rental company Sixt recently poked fun at the bankruptcy with an AI-created advertisement that placed a fake banner across the building.<ref>Die Presse: ''[https://www.diepresse.com/18023771/nach-signa-insolvenz-falsches-sixt-plakat-auf-elbtower-verspottet-rene-benko Nach Signa-Insolvenz: Falsches Sixt-Plakat auf Elbtower verspottet René Benko]'', 23 January, 2024</ref>
== Conviction and imprisonment == In January 2025, Benko was arrested by Austrian authorities on suspicion of fraud and corruption.
The case was brought by the Austrian Central Public Prosecutor. Following a trial in Vienna, Benko was found guilty of financial fraud. On 15 October 2025, he was sentenced to two years' imprisonment.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-15 |title=Prison time for Luxembourg-linked tycoon René Benko |url=https://www.luxtimes.lu/businessandfinance/prison-time-for-luxembourg-linked-tycoon-rene-benko/97715679.html |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=Luxembourg Times |language=en-GB}}</ref>
The ''Financial Times'' reported that the trial was likely to be first in a series of court cases related to Signa's collapse.<ref name=":2" />
== Awards == * 2011: ''Tyrolean of the Year'' by the Regional Governor Günther Platter<ref>{{Cite web |title=Club Tirol - TIROLER DES JAHRES |trans-title=Club Tirol - TIROLER OF THE YEAR |url=https://www.clubtirol.net/show_content.php?hid=10 |access-date=2021-10-17 |website=clubtirol.net}}</ref> * 2012 and 2018: ''Man of the Year'' by the Austrian Business Magazine ''Trend''<ref>{{Cite web |title="trend": Signa-Gründer René Benko ist der "trend"-Mann des Jahres |trans-title="trend": Signa founder René Benko is the "trend" man of the year |url=https://www.ots.at/presseaussendung/OTS_20111218_OTS0004/trend-signa-gruender-ren-benko-ist-der-trend-mann-des-jahres |access-date=2021-09-16 |website=OTS (press release) |language=de}}</ref> * 2018: ''Strategist of the Year'' by the German Business Magazine ''Handelsblatt''; Roland Berger wrote the contribution.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roland |first=Berger |date=2018-12-26 |title=Stratege des Jahres: Investor René Benko – Mit Gespür für Geld und Geschäft zum Kaufhaus-Coup |trans-title=Strategist of the Year: Investor René Benko - With a flair for money and business to the department store coup |url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/management/menschen-des-jahres-2018/stratege-des-jahres-investor-rene-benko-mit-gespuer-fuer-geld-und-geschaeft-zum-kaufhaus-coup/23750240.html |access-date=2021-09-16 |website=Handelsblatt |language=de}}</ref> * 2018: ''Man of the Year'' by ''Across'', a European business magazine for the retail and real estate industries<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-01-10 |title=Man of the Year: René Benko. The Real Estate Tycoon |url=https://www.across-magazine.com/man-year-rene-benko-real-estate-tycoon/ |access-date=2021-09-16 |website=Across, The European Placemaking Magazine}}</ref> *2019: ''Pentola d’Oro International'' by ''Il Quotidiano Immobiliare'', a professional industry journal<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-03-29 |title=Benko erhält die "Pentola d'Oro" |work=Dolomiten}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category-inline}} * [https://www.signa.at/en/company/ Profile at SIGNA Holding] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202091953/https://www.signa.at/en/company/ |date=2 December 2021 }} company website
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benko, Rene}} Category:1977 births Category:Austrian businesspeople in the real estate industry Category:Living people Category:Businesspeople from Innsbruck Category:Austrian investors Category:Austrian billionaires Category:Former billionaires René Benko Category:Controversies in Austria Category:21st-century Austrian criminals