NEW YORK (AP) – Died Benjamin de Rothschild, who oversaw the banking empire started by his father in 1953. He was 57 years old.
The Edmond de Rothschild group, whose company he was chairman of, said de Rothschild died of a heart attack Friday afternoon at his home in Pregny, Switzerland.
From 1997, Benjamin de Rothschild led the banking group, which was named after his father. Today, the Edmond de Rothschild group says it manages assets worth 160 billion euros, or 190 billion dollars.
Forbes magazine estimates Rothschild’s net worth at $ 1.5 billion. He is a descendant of the Rothschild family, which has a history of almost 300 years running European banks.
In a press release announcing his death, the Edmond de Rothschild group said Rothschild was passionate about finance, sailing, cars and wine. He was also a philanthropist, involved in the Adolphe de Rothschild Foundation Hospital, the company said.
He is survived by his wife, Ariane de Rothschild, and their four adult daughters.