Philip Niarchos

Philip Niarchos
Born	1952 Greece
Occupation(s)	Businessman, art collector, philanthropist
Known for	Eldest son of shipping tycoon Stavros Niarchos; art collection; Stavros Niarchos Foundation co-leader

Philip Niarchos (also known as Phílippos or Philippe; ) (born 1952) is a Greek billionaire and the eldest son of shipping tycoon Stavros Niarchos and Eugenia Livanos, who was the daughter of Stavros Niarchos' competitor Stavros G. Livanos, the founder of the Livanos shipping dynasty.

Inheritance and professional involvement

In 2008, The Sunday Times valued Philip Niarchos' fortune at approximately GBP 850 million (equivalent to around $1.687 billion at that time). He holds a position on the board of trustees at New York's Museum of Modern Art and participates as an international council member at London's Tate Gallery. His education includes studies at Collège Stanislas de Paris and Institut Le Rosey. Alongside his brother Spyros Stavros Niarchos, he co-leads the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, a prominent global private philanthropic organization established more than 25 years ago. The foundation has distributed $3.3 billion through 5,000 grants, primarily supporting initiatives in physical and mental health internationally. In 2022, it pledged $15 million towards a youth mental health initiative in Greece, collaborating with The Child Mind Institute and the Greek Ministry of Health.

Art collection

Philip Niarchos inherited his father’s distinguished art collection, widely recognized as one of the most important private assemblages of Impressionist and modern artworks. Among its prized pieces is Pablo Picasso’s self-portrait Yo, Picasso, acquired in 1989 for $47.85 million. Philip has further enhanced this collection by obtaining significant works including Vincent van Gogh’s "Self-Portrait" (purchased in 1998 for $71.5 million), Jean-Michel Basquiat’s 1982 Self-Portrait ($3.3 million), and Andy Warhol’s Red Marilyn ($3.63 million). A notable aspect involves Warhol’s skull portraits, which were inspired by CAT scans of Philip Niarchos himself, commissioned directly by him. Niarchos is frequently referenced in The Andy Warhol Diaries, which also explore his intricate relationship with socialite Barbara de Kwiatkowski.

Personal life and family

In 1984, Philip Niarchos married Victoria Christina Guinness (born 1960), daughter of Patrick Benjamin Guinness from the banking sector branch of the Guinness family. They have four children: two sons and two daughters:

• Stavros Niarchos III (born 1985), who appeared in The Fabulous Life of.... He wed art collector Dasha Zhukova in Paris in October 2019.
• Eugenie Niarchos (born 1986), known as a socialite and jewelry designer.
• Theodorakis 'Theo' Niarchos (born 1991), who has been in a relationship with Camille Rowe since 2018.
• Electra Niarchos (born 1995).

Philip Niarchos was both a first cousin and step-brother to heiress Christina Onassis; Christina’s mother Athina Livanos was the younger sister of Niarchos's mother and later became his father’s wife. Additionally, he is a first cousin once removed to Athina Onassis.