- Gunther Sachs TOC:
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- The Fascinating Life of Gunther Sachs
- The Sachs family fortune
- Entrepreneurial Mind of Gunther Sachs
- Luxury Lifestyle
- St. Moritz and Saint Tropez ultimate luxury
- Gunther Sachs and Brigitte Bardot
- Definition of a Playboy
- Gunther Sachs and the Jet Set lifestyle
- The Sports and Adventure of Gunther Sachs
- Gunther Sachs and Andy Warhol
- Life of an art icon
- Pioneering art collector with passion and skill
- Sachs the Photographer
- Iconic Photoshoot with Supermodel Claudia Schiffer
- Gunther Sachs at Photokina
- Gunther Sachs Rare Photos
- Gunther Sachs' introduction to photography
- Gunther Sachs Death
- Gunther Sachs FAQ
The Fascinating Life of Gunther Sachs
Gunther Sachs was a German businessman, art collector, and photographer known for his playboy lifestyle. He was a member of the Sachs family, one of the richest and most prominent dynasties in Germany, and was famously married to French actress Brigitte Bardot. He died in 2011 at the age of 78.
Take part in the moments of delight, in the silent admiration for the charming playboy Gunther Sachs, the educated collector and patron of the arts and the subtle cosmopolitan. The pictures in this photo-essay give an exclusive insight into the life of the art icon.
The Sachs family fortune
Gunther Sachs was born in Germany on 14 November 1932 to the wealthy tycoon and heir to a large fortune.
His mother Eleanor Sachs descended from the Opel family and was the daughter of Wilhelm von Opel, the co-founder of the German car manufacturer.
His father Willy Sachs was the owner of the company Fichtel & Sachs, a leading manufacturer of ball bearings in Schweinfurt an important German supplier to the automobile industry.
The family fortune was made through the Sachs AG, a large industrial conglomerate.
Sachs inherited a significant portion of the family fortune and used it to invest in a variety of business ventures.
Entrepreneurial Mind of Gunther Sachs
Sachs' extensive collection included works by Picasso, Jean Fautrier, Andy Warhol, René Magritte, Salvador Dalí, Roy Lichtenstein, Tom Wesselmann, Mel Ramos, and Allen Jones. He also owned important pieces from the Nouveau réalisme school including Yves Klein, Jean Tinguely, Arman, and Martial Raysse.
After studying mathematics and economics, Sachs completed a precision mechanic apprenticeship followed by a banking apprenticeship as well as a French interpreting diploma.
Sachs was a member of the supervisory board of Fichtel & Sachs until the end of the 1970s.
In addition, the entrepreneur sponsored the emblematic ready-to-wear fashion brand Mic Mac. The label enjoyed dazzling success.
Champagne and supermodels aside, Sachs was also a shrewd businessman who was able to spot opportunities in multiple industries and had a diverse portfolio of successful projects.
Luxury Lifestyle
A painting by probably the most famous artist of the 20th century adorned the walls of Gunther Sachs' Paris flat on Avenue Foch in 1963.
His colourful personal playboy lifestyle and high-profile liaisons, including his marriage to French film actress and sex symbol Brigitte Bardot, are considered legendary.
The businessman, Gallery owner, museum director, art collector, film-maker, celebrity, photographer, astrologer, director and sportsman led an adventurous, glamorous, and luxurious lifestyle others only dreamed of.
With his wealth, Sachs was able to indulge in a variety of luxury pursuits, including fast cars, yachts, private jets, and exotic vacations.
Sachs’ lifestyle included both coolness and creativity, he was a much-admired man and surrounded himself with beautiful women, art and celebrities.
Gunther Sachs was a man of many talents and contrasts.
Sachs was also known for his love of fashion and was known for his impeccable style and taste.
He had many romantic relationships and was known for his good looks and charm. His most high-profile relationships were his liaison with the Persian ex-empress Soraya and his celebrity marriage with French film star, Brigitte Bardot.
Sachs had a great sense of creativity for life, combined with a joy of life and the gift of living it.
A fascinating personality, of course also thanks to his financial means he also helped friends and acquaintances personally and financially.
St. Moritz and Saint Tropez ultimate luxury
Gunther Sachs with Bust of a woman, oil on canvas, 61 x 50 cm, by Pablo Picasso. According to the Catalogue Raisonné, the work was painted in winter 1960 in Vauvenarges.
Gunther Sachs, champion skier, talented photographer, and a patron of the arts had a lasting influence on the luxury destinations of St. Moritz and Saint Tropez.
Known for his love of the good life, Sachs helped to establish both locations as the ultimate destination for the super-rich elite.
He owned a chalet in the Swiss Alpine village and hosted many glamorous parties and events that attracted celebrities and high society from all over the world.
In Saint Tropez, Sachs had a villa on the Mediterranean coast and spent his summers on his yacht sailing the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean.
He was a frequent visitor to the most exclusive clubs and parties, and was instrumental in establishing the village as a playground for the jet-set crowd, boosting the local economy and attracting ever more visitors to the area.
His influence on the growth and reputation of these two places is undeniable, and his legacy continues to attract visitors from all over the world, looking for a taste of the luxury and exclusivity that Gunther Sachs helped to establish.
Gunther Sachs played a key role in cementing their reputation as the ultimate luxury getaways
It is thanks to his legacy that the locations of St. Moritz and Saint Tropez have achieved worldwide fame and tremendous wealth.
Gunther Sachs and Brigitte Bardot
It is certainly rare that an expensive painting by a famous painter like Picasso is shown in such a natural environment, in this case in the home of the young, and aspiring art collector Gunther Sachs.
Sachs and Bardot first met at a party in St. Tropez, the Mediterranean coastal town that was a popular destination for the jet-set crowd of the time.
Sachs was immediately smitten with Bardot, who was at the height of her fame as a sex symbol and one of the biggest stars in French cinema.
The couple began dating and soon became inseparable, often seen together at high-profile events and on luxurious vacations.
In 1966, Sachs and Bardot got married in a lavish ceremony in Las Vegas. The wedding was a media sensation and was covered by newspapers and magazines around the world.
The couple's honeymoon was equally extravagant, with a private jet taking them on a tour of several exotic destinations, including the Caribbean and Mexico.
In 1972, Bardot and Sachs decided to divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce was amicable, and the couple remained friends even after their separation. Sachs went on to marry twice more, while Bardot never remarried.
Gunther Sachs and Brigitte Bardot's relationship was one of the most talked-about of the 1960s and 1970s, a true embodiment of the jet-set lifestyle of the era.
Their love story was marked by glamour, luxury, and controversy, and it remains a fascinating chapter in the lives of two of the most iconic figures of the time.
Definition of a Playboy
During this time, some unforgettable Parties took place in Avenue Foch, also in the presence of Soraya Esfandiary, the former wife of the Shah of Iran, with whom Sachs was rumoured to have an affair. According to Bock-Schroeder there were no security personnel at these events. The Picasso on the wall witnessed everything and survived unharmed.
Gunther Sachs was the ultimate playboy and jet-setter who led a life of luxury and debauchery.
The billionaire industrialist was a world-class sportsman, and an international man of mystery.
But for Sachs, being a playboy was more than just a label, it was a way of life.
For over half a century, he was not only one of the most dazzling, but also one of the most misjudged public figures.
As much as his extroverted lifestyle stamped him as a playboy, the person behind this public image was profound and cultivated.
The fact is that Sachs was actually much more a lover of the fine arts than of beautiful women. A perfectionist, a patron, a collector, a lateral thinker between his collection and his own work.
He embodied the gentleman playboy like few, but he was more than that. His life was a work of art.
Gunther Sachs and the Jet Set lifestyle
Gunther Sachs was a well-connected and influential figure in the world of high society and the jet set.
Despite his passion for art, Sachs' life was not without controversy. His association with the jet set, a clique of wealthy and influential personalities who allegedly exhibited hedonistic and decadent behaviour, was both criticised and commented on with bewilderment.
He had a wide circle of friends, including some of the most famous and powerful people of the time.
Some of his most notable friends included Porfirio Rubirosa and Prince Aly Khan.
Whether he was racing cars, skiing down the Swiss Alps, or rubbing elbows with the rich and famous, Sachs always lived life on his own terms.
It was this sense of freedom and independence that made him one of the most intriguing and enigmatic figures of his generation.
The Sports and Adventure of Gunther Sachs
Sachs was known for his love of sports and adventure, he was an accomplished skier and Olympic bobsledder.
In the 1959 the active athlete won the junior European title in two-man bobsleigh.
Ten years later he became president of the St. Moritz Bobsleigh Club .
For his 40th anniversary of service, a square above the bobsleigh track was renamed Plazza Gunter Sachs.
Sachs also enjoyed sailing and motor sports. He owned a yacht that he sailed in the Mediterranean sea, as well as several hand-built luxury cars and go-karts.
Gunther Sachs and Andy Warhol
Sachs, the wealthy businessman and playboy, was known for his love of luxury and adventure, while Warhol, the artist and cultural icon, was known for his avant-garde art and his role in the rise of the pop art movement.
Sachs was immediately struck by Warhol's bold and colourful art, and he began to collect his pieces.
Over time, Sachs' collection of Warhol's art would become one of the largest and most comprehensive private collections of Warhol's work in the world.
He had the necessary means to acquire the great masters, but also supported young new artists like the then still unknown Andy Warhol
In 1972, Sachs became an enthusiastic and knowledgeable Pop Art collector and established a gallery in Hamburg. His Warhol exhibition there was among the very first in Europe.
Sachs' support of Andy Warhol went beyond just collecting his paintings.
He also supported Warhol's artistic endeavors, by investing in his films. Warhol would even produce a portrait of Sachs.
Life of an art icon
Picasso's Buste de femme was sold by Christie's in London on June 30, 99 as, lot: 523, for £474,500 to an anonymous collector.
From an early age, Sachs became involved in the world of art and culture and quickly developed a keen interest in collecting.
In the 1950s and 60s, he began visiting galleries, museums and private collections, establishing relationships with some of the most important art dealers, artists and collectors of the time.
Gunther Sachs was a serious art collector and a true patron of the arts. He amassed a huge collection of masterpieces by some of the most famous artists of the 20th century.
Pioneering art collector with passion and skill
Gunter Sachs, heir to the German Opel car fortune, had exquisite taste and feeling for art.
Sachs developed his passion for collecting and showcasing modern art at a time when only a very small minority in people were interested, and developed one of the most important private art collections worldwide.
Initially, he began to decorate his luxurious Parisian residence with works of art. His strategy was to buy art for his personal collection and to focus on the highest quality available.
As his collection grew, Sachs became known for his discerning eye and willingness to take risks with emerging artists.
He was particularly drawn to the exponents of Nouveau Réalisme and Pop Art and accumulated an impressive collection of paintings, sculptures and prints.
Sachs the Photographer
Sachs did not limit himself to collecting art. He led a life with art. This was reflected in his commitment as a gallery owner, museum director and patron.
Gunther Sachs was a man of many talents and interests, but one of his most surprising pursuits was photography.
In the 1970s Gunther Sachs turned to photography and became a renowned and successful photographer.
He was a true artist behind the lens and his photographs were not only capturing the beauty and glamour of the elite but also had a unique perspective, and a keen sense of composition.
Sachs was able to create a sense of intimacy in his photographs, making them relatable and personal.
He was particularly known for his photographs of women, capturing their beauty and glamour with a keen eye and a masterful touch.
In 1973 he caused a sensation with nude photos commissioned by French Vogue.
Iconic Photoshoot with Supermodel Claudia Schiffer
In 1991 he collaborated with Claudia Schiffer for a period of six weeks on a celebrated artistic series of the Heroines. The project had its world premiere at the Kunsthalle in Bremen. Many international shows followed.
Gunter Sachs managed to give Claudia's beauty additional facets; he made her shine with all nuances of feminine power and love magic.
The resulting series of photographs, shot in Warhol-style pop art, was a true testament to Sachs' artistic talent and his intimate relationship with Schiffer.
Sachs' unique approach to photography, combined with Schiffer's undeniable beauty and sex appeal, created a truly unforgettable series of images.
Gunther Sachs at Photokina
With a special show at the Photokina trade fair, for which he also designed the trade fair poster, he garnered international attention in 1974. Many international shows followed.
The Leica Award was presented to him in 1976. At the German Photo Days and Photokina, he was awarded prizes for "The Colour White" in 1994 and "The Colour Red" in 1995.
Sachs' photographs were featured in major galleries and exhibitions around the world, and are highly sought after by collectors.
Gunther Sachs Rare Photos
In 1963 Peter Bock-Schroeder photographed Gunther Sachs in his Paris apartment at 120 Avenue Foch.
The Photos from the series show the young enthusiastic, curious and adventurous Sachs, open to life. It is Gunther Sachs at the starting line for a great adventure.
Bock-Schroeder and Sachs got along well. The planned 2-day visit turned into 3 weeks. The results are personal pictures of a young Gunther Sachs at the dawn of his life as an international celebrity.
Gunther Sachs' introduction to photography
During the Photo Sessions Sachs asked Bock-Schroeder to teach him photography. As a farewell gift, Bock-Schroeder gave Sachs one of his Leica cameras as a present, and enabled the young Sachs to enter the world of photography.
Gunther Sachs Death
In May 2011, Gunter Sachs shot himself at the age of 78. In a suicide note he explained the reason for his suicide.
He had noticed clear symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in himself and wanted to end his life now before he no longer had any control over it.
To those who knew him best, Sachs was a fascinating and complex man whose life was defined by his passions and ambitions.
Playboy and art collector
Gunther Sachs FAQ
The name Willy Brandt is synonymous with the pursuit of peace and reconciliation.
Each Warhol is a singular variation of an original photograph by Peter Bock-Schroeder taken in New York in 1982.
The Bock-Schroeder Blue Chip NFT collection provides an excellent gateway for skeptical art lovers.
Boudoir and erotic photography have been popular collector's pieces since the dawn of photography.
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