Aristotle Onassis.

Αριστοτέλης Ωνάσης Αριστοτέλης Σωκράτη Ωνάσης

Born 15 Jan 1906 Karatas, Ottoman Empire

Died 15 Mar 1975 Neuilly-sur-Seine, France

Citizenship Greece

Would Be 120 yr If Living

8 min read

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Words

Sep 29, 2026

Published

TL;DR

He introduced supertankers for Middle Eastern oil, paying off each vessel in six months. He married Jacqueline Kennedy in 1968. He founded Olympic Airways in 1956 and built Olympic Tower in New York.

Identity & family.

KIN · 6

Names, aliases, and relatives of Aristotle Onassis — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Αριστοτέλης Σωκράτη Ωνάσης

Native Name Αριστοτέλης Ωνάσης

Nicknames Ari

Aliases Aristoteles Onassis

Parents: Penelope Dolagu Socrates Onassis
Spouses: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Athina Livanos
Children: Alexandros Onassis Christina Onassis

At a glance.

STATS

Aristotle Onassis by the numbers — life, work, and family.

69 Years lived

2 Marriages

2 Children

Who was Aristotle Onassis?

BIOGRAPHY

Aristotle Onassis — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Socrates Onassis owned a fleet of ten ships staffed by forty sailors when his son Aristotle was born in 1906 in Karatas, Smyrna. He attended the Evangelical School of Smyrna, learning English, Spanish, and Turkish. After World War I, the collapse of the Ottoman Empire led to the expulsion of ethnic Greeks; the Onassis family fled to Greece as refugees, losing almost everything.

Career

Onassis emigrated to Argentina in 1923 with 60 dollars. He started as a tobacco importer, then acquired his own ships. He began transporting oil for major petroleum companies, building supertankers. A supertanker required a six-month lease to pay off, then generated profit for its 20-year lifespan. He diversified into petroleum, transportation, and other industries. He founded Olympic Airways in 1956. With Arthur G. Cohen, he built the 51-story Olympic Tower in New York, completed in 1971.

Personal life

Onassis had a relationship with opera singer Maria Callas. He ended it in 1968 to marry Jacqueline Kennedy, widow of President John F. Kennedy. He was married to Athina Livanos from December 1946 to June 1960; they had two children, Alexandros and Christina. His son Alexandros died in a 1973 plane crash; Christina inherited his shipping empire.

Legacy

Onassis introduced supertankers to oil shipping, becoming a billionaire. Hergé parodied him as Laszlo Carreidas in Tintin’s Flight 714. Actors Raul Julia and Anthony Quinn have portrayed him or characters based on him. He remains known as the second husband of Jacqueline Kennedy and the founder of Olympic Airways.

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 3

A wall of memorable lines from Aristotle Onassis — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

To Succeed in Business It Is Necessary to Make Others See Things as You See Them.
If Women Didn’t Exist, All the Money in the World Would Have No Meaning.
The Secret of Business Is to Know Something Nobody Else Knows.

Did you know?

FACTS · 10

Little-known facts about Aristotle Onassis — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Onassis ended his affair with Maria Callas to marry Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in 1968.
He was the grandfather of Athina Onassis Roussel.
His first wife Athina Livanos, after their divorce, married John Spencer-Churchill and later Stavros Niarchos, Onassis’s arch shipping rival.
Onassis founded Olympic Airways of Greece in 1956.
In Hergé’s Tintin comic Flight 714, a tycoon named Laszlo Carreidas parodies Onassis’s auction rivalry.
His son Alexander Socrates Onassis died in a plane crash on January 23, 1973; daughter Christina Onassis inherited the empire.
In 1954, the FBI investigated Onassis for fraud against the government; he pled guilty and paid $7 million.
According to Nicholas Gage’s book Greek Fire, a son of Maria Callas and Onassis was born and died on March 30, 1960.
Onassis has been portrayed by Frank Vincent, Raul Julia, Joss Ackland, and others; Anthony Quinn played a character based on him in The Greek Tycoon.
He partnered with Arthur G. Cohen to build Olympic Tower in New York City in 1971.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 36

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Aristotle Onassis.

When was Aristotle Onassis born?

Aristotle Onassis was born on January 15, 1906 in Karatas, a neighborhood of Smyrna in the Ottoman Empire. He was the son of ship owner Socrates Onassis.
Where was Aristotle Onassis born?

He was born in Karatas, Konak, Izmir, Ottoman Empire, present-day Turkey. The area was then part of the Ottoman Empire with a large Greek population.
When did Aristotle Onassis die?

Aristotle Onassis died on March 15, 1975 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. He was 69 years old at the time of his death.
How old was Aristotle Onassis when he died?

He died at the age of 69. He was born in 1906 and passed away in 1975.
Where did Aristotle Onassis die?

He died in Neuilly-sur-Seine, a suburb of Paris, France. The cause was bronchial pneumonia.
How did Aristotle Onassis die?

He died from bronchial pneumonia on March 15, 1975 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. He had been suffering from ill health in his final years.
What was Aristotle Onassis's real name?

His birth name is Αριστοτέλης Σωκράτη Ωνάσης, which translates to Aristotle Socrates Onassis. He was also known simply as Aristoteles Onassis.
What is Aristotle Onassis's name in Greek?

In Greek, his name is Αριστοτέλης Ωνάσης. He was a native Greek speaker, born to Greek parents in the Ottoman Empire.
What nationality was Aristotle Onassis?

He was a Greek citizen and also held Argentine and Greek passports. He often identified as Greek despite his international business dealings.
Who were Aristotle Onassis's parents?

His parents were Penelope Dolagu and Socrates Onassis. His father Socrates was a ship owner with a fleet of ten vessels.
Who was Aristotle Onassis married to?

He was married to Athina Livanos from 1946 to 1960, and later to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis from 1968 until his death in 1975.
Did Aristotle Onassis have children?

Yes, he had two children: Alexandros Onassis, born in 1948 and died in 1973, and Christina Onassis, who inherited his shipping empire.
Where did Aristotle Onassis go to school?

He attended the Evangelical School of Smyrna, where he received a good education and learned English, Spanish, and Turkish.
What is Aristotle Onassis best known for?

He is best known as a billionaire shipping magnate who pioneered supertankers and as the second husband of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. He also founded Olympic Airways.
Why was Aristotle Onassis called Ari?

He was commonly called Ari, a nickname derived from Aristotle. It was used by friends and the press to reflect his charismatic public persona.
Why did Aristotle Onassis use the alias Aristoteles Onassis?

Aristoteles Onassis is the Latinized form of his Greek name. He used it in some official documents and international contracts.
How did Aristotle Onassis make his fortune?

He made his fortune by introducing supertankers to transport oil for major petroleum companies. The ships could be paid off in six months, leaving huge profits over their 20-year lifespan.
What happened to Aristotle Onassis's children?

His son Alexander died in a plane crash in 1973 at age 24. His daughter Christina took over the business but died in 1988; her daughter Athina is the heir.
Was Aristotle Onassis investigated by the FBI?

Yes, in 1954 the FBI investigated him for fraud against the government regarding U.S. shipping laws. He pled guilty and paid a $7 million fine.
What building did Aristotle Onassis build in New York City?

He partnered with Arthur G. Cohen to build Olympic Tower, a 51-story mixed-use building across from St. Patrick’s Cathedral. It was completed in 1971.
What airline did Aristotle Onassis found?

He founded Olympic Airways in 1956, which became Greece’s national airline. It was later privatized and rebranded as Olympic Air.
Who played Aristotle Onassis in movies?

He has been portrayed by many actors, including Frank Vincent, Raul Julia, Joss Ackland, and Robert Lindsay. Anthony Quinn played a character based on him in The Greek Tycoon.
Did Aristotle Onassis have a relationship with Maria Callas?

Yes, he had a celebrated affair with opera diva Maria Callas. He ended the relationship in 1968 to marry Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
Who were Aristotle Onassis's relatives?

His granddaughter is Athina Onassis Roussel, the daughter of his daughter Christina. He also had a son Alexander who died young.
What was Aristotle Onassis's net worth?

While exact figures vary, he was one of the wealthiest men in the world during his lifetime, with a fortune estimated in the billions. The number of billionaires then could be counted on one hand.
How did Aristotle Onassis get into shipping?

After emigrating to Argentina in 1923, he started as a tobacco importer. He gradually acquired his own ships and expanded into oil transport, where he made his billions.
Where is Aristotle Onassis buried?

He is buried on Skorpios Island, his private Greek island in the Ionian Sea. The island is also the burial site of his son Alexander and daughter Christina.
What is Olympic Airways?

Olympic Airways was Greece’s national airline founded by Onassis in 1956. It operated until 2003 when it was privatized and rebranded as Olympic Air.
Did Aristotle Onassis own a private island?

Yes, he owned Skorpios, a private island in Greece. It became the family burial site and was later inherited by his granddaughter Athina.
How did Aristotle Onassis's son die?

His son Alexander Socrates Onassis died in a plane crash at Ellinikon International Airport in Athens on January 23, 1973. He was 24 years old.
What was Aristotle Onassis's role in the Tintin comic?

In Hergé’s Flight 714, a tycoon named Laszlo Carreidas is a parody of Onassis, featuring a scene where he tries to outbid Onassis at an auction.
How much did Aristotle Onassis pay to settle his fraud case?

In 1954 he pled guilty to violating U.S. shipping laws and paid $7 million to the U.S. government, a huge sum at the time.
Who inherited Aristotle Onassis's fortune?

After his death, his daughter Christina Onassis inherited the bulk of his estate. She later passed it to her daughter, Athina Onassis Roussel.
What was the relationship between Athina Livanos and Stavros Niarchos?

After divorcing Onassis, Athina Livanos married John Spencer-Churchill, then divorced him and married Stavros Niarchos, Onassis’s arch rival in shipping.
Did Aristotle Onassis have a child with Maria Callas?

According to Nicholas Gage’s book Greek Fire, Callas gave birth to a son in 1960 who died the same day. The child’s father was Onassis.
What is Olympic Tower?

Olympic Tower is a 51-story residential and commercial building on Fifth Avenue in New York City, built by Onassis and Arthur G. Cohen in 1971.

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Michael is the last person to read a profile before it goes live, which makes him the one who catches what everyone else missed. 5 years as a copy editor has given him a sharp sense for what's off. A wrong year, a vague credit, a sentence that almost makes sense but doesn't quite. He's especially thorough with filmographies. He'll tell you that's where most of the errors hide. He's right.

Published on September 29, 2026

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