Nikos Andrianakos, one of the wealthiest Greek Australians, has passed away at the age of 81, The Greek Herald has confirmed.
According to Argolida24.gr, Mr Andrianakos died at Argos Hospital in Argolida, Greece, due to heart failure. Mr Andrianakos was in Greece for an investment project.
Argolida24.gr reported that Mr Andrianakos fell ill during a meeting and was rushed to the hospital, where attempts at resuscitation were unsuccessful.
Born in the village of Pikerni in Arcadia, Greece, Andrianakos emigrated to Australia in the 1960s at the age of 22. He began his entrepreneurial journey by purchasing a small gas station in Melbourne in 1973.
Over the years, he built a vast real estate empire, expanding into malls, office buildings, and other properties. By 2023, he was ranked as the second-richest Greek in Australia, with a family fortune of $1.49 billion.
In 2016, he sold his chain of 54 gas stations to Caltex Australia for $95 million.
More recently, his company, Andrianakos Property Group, continued to make significant deals, including acquiring major shopping centres in Melbourne and Adelaide.
Andrianakos was known for his rags-to-riches story and his charitable contributions, such as funding substance abuse rehabilitation centres and supporting the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne.
His commitment to both his heritage and business was unwavering, and he had plans to build a luxury hotel in Nafplio, Greece.
Despite his success, Andrianakos remained down-to-earth and authentic, earning respect in both the business and philanthropic communities.
