PARIS (Reuters) – French billionaire Olivier Dassault was killed on Sunday in a helicopter crash, a police source said, with President Emmanuel Macron honoring the 69-year-old conservative politician.
Dassault was the eldest son of French billionaire industrialist Serge Dassault, whose namesake Dassault Aviation, builds Rafale warplanes and owns the newspaper Le Figaro.
“Olivier Dassault loved France. Captain of the industry, legislator, elected local authority, commander of the Aeronautics reserve: during his life, he never failed to serve our country, valuing its heritage. His sudden death is a great loss. Thoughts about your family and loved ones, ”said Macron on Twitter.
The private helicopter crashed on Sunday afternoon in Normandy, where he owns a vacation home, according to a police source. The pilot was also killed.
Legislator of the conservative Les Republicains party since 2002, Dassault was considered the 361st richest man in the world alongside his two brothers and sister, with a fortune of around 6 billion euros (7.15 billion dollars) mostly inherited from his father, according to the Forbes 2020 rich list.
He left his position on Dassault’s board due to his political role in avoiding any conflict of interest.
Olivier, seen as the favorite of founder Marcel, was once considered the favorite to succeed Serge at the head of the family estate, but that role went to former Dassault Aviation CEO Charles Edelstenne.
“Great sadness at the news of Olivier Dassault’s sudden passing,” said Valerie Pecresse, a conservative politician who is president of the Paris region, on Twitter.
“A businessman, but also a renowned photographer, he had a passion for politics in his blood, rooted in his department of Oise. My warm thoughts to your family. “
($ 1 = 0.8393 euros)
Reporting by Bhargav Acharya in Bengaluru and Paris Newsroom; Edition by William Maclean, Catherine Evans and Frances Kerry