Nubar Gulbenkian

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Nubar S. Gulbenkian
Born 2 June 1896
Kadi Keui, Ottoman Empire (present-day Turkey)[1]
Died January 10, 1972 (aged 75)
Cannes, France
Nationality Armenian
Occupation Petroleum magnate and socialite

Nubar Sarkis Gulbenkian (1896–1972) was a Turkish-born Armenian petroleum magnate and socialite.

Contents

[edit] Early years

The son of Calouste Gulbenkian, he was born on the Bosporus but taken out of the country at an early age due to anti-Armenian activity which culminated in the Armenian Genocide.[2] Taken by his father to England, he was educated at Harrow School, the University of Cambridge and in Germany. As a consequence of his educational background Gulbenkian saw himself as British and strove to live up to the model of the English gentleman. As such, during World War II he undertook some amateur sabotage in Vichy France on behalf of the United Kingdom.[3] Despite this he was also attached to the Iranian Embassy in London in an honorary role (as he held Iranian citizenship) whilst he regained his Turkish citizenship in 1965.[2] This however had helped him during the war as his neutral passport allowed him to cross between France and Spain with little trouble and thus gain access to British intelligence in Gibraltar.[4]

[edit] Business

Gulbenkian began as an unpaid worker for his father, who was as noted for his miserly tendencies as his son would be for his spending, but later sued his father for $10 million, bizarrely after a refusal by the company to allow him $4.50 for a lunch of chicken in tarragon jelly.[2] Ultimately the incident contributed to Calouste Gulbenkian's decision to leave $420 million of his fortune to the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Portugal.[2]

Although he ultimately inherited $2.5 million from his father, as well as more in a settlement from the Foundation, Gulbenkian also became independently wealthy through his own oil dealings.[2] He was initially the protege of Henri Deterding at Royal Dutch Shell[5] but later made an independent fortune which allowed him to live a highly extravagant lifestyle.

[edit] Eccentricity

A regular face on the international playboy scene Gulbenkian became noted for his fairly eccentric life, with a number of stories building up around his name. Indeed his character was summed up by an associate who claimed that "Nubar is so tough that every day he tires out three stockbrokers, three horses and three women".[2]

He became an aficionado of the Hackney carriage, stating frequently that 'It turns on a sixpence, whatever that is!' He even had two Austin FX4 cabs converted to his own specifications and, despite their somewhat bizarre appearance, one of the vehicles sold for £23,000 in 1993.[6]

He appeared as a guest on the BBC show Face to Face in 1959, but refused to sign a contract or accept a fee for his appearance. During the interview he attacked the Trustees of the Gulbenkian Foundation in what amounted to virtual slander.[7] Following his appearance, he sued the Corporation in order to be given a copy of the episode, which he claimed had been promised in lieu of a fee, although the suit was not profitable.[8]

A known gourmet, he was quoted as saying that 'the best number for a dinner party is two - myself and a damn good head waiter.'[9] Other stories attached to his name include giving his position in life on a market research form as 'enviable'.[10]

[edit] Will

Controversy continued to follow him after his death due to the vague nature of his will, which appeared to suggest that everybody he employed or stayed with during his life should receive some money. The case was eventually taken to the House of Lords before settlement.[11]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Obits: "Gu" - "Gz". Caskets On Parade. C.O.P. Audit Committee (2007-04-01). Retrieved on 2008-01-28.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Last of the Big Spenders", Time Magazine, 1972-01-24. Retrieved on 2008-01-28. 
  3. ^ N. Gulbenkian, Portrait in Oil: The Autobiography of Nubar Gulbenkian, New York: Simon and Schuster, 1965
  4. ^ Sherri Greene Ottis, Silent Heroes: Downed Airmen and the French Underground, p. 78
  5. ^ N. Gulbenkian, Portrait in Oil: The Autobiography of Nubar Gulbenkian, New York: Simon and Schuster, 1965
  6. ^ Adams, Keith (2004-08-17). Specialist conversions. Austin Rover Online. Retrieved on 2008-01-28.
  7. ^ Asa Briggs, The History of Broadcasting in the United Kingdom, p. 170
  8. ^ Burnett, Hugh (2007-11-23). Nubar Gulbenkian interview. Memoryshare. BBC. Retrieved on 2008-01-28.
  9. ^ Nubar Gulbenkian quotes. ThinkExist.com Quotations. Retrieved on 2008-01-28.
  10. ^ Missionary Position?. Anecdotage.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-28.
  11. ^ Alastair Hudson, Equity & Trusts, p.95

[edit] External link