Politician and businessman Olivier Dassault, one of France’s richest men, died in helicopter crash

Olivier Dassault, French deputy and symbol of the French military industry, died this Sunday in a helicopter crash. The billionaire, one of the richest men in France, he was 69 he owned the Dassault group, manufacturer of Falcon aircraft among others. According to French media, the private flight accident occurred in Touques, Lower Normandy, and the helicopter pilot also died in the episode.

The billionaire was away for the weekend in Deauville (on the coast), where he owns a vacation home. On the return flight to Oise, the accident occurred.

Born June 1, 1951 in Boulogne-Billancourt, son of Serge and Nicole Dassault, Olivier Dassault was one of the heirs of the French billionaire. Currently, according to the magazine Forbes, was ranked 361 among the richest in the world, with an estimated fortune of nearly $ 6,000 million.

Like the rest of his brothers, Olivier – who was the eldest of the four – He first studied at the Air School, where he trained as an officer, engineer and pilot, and was also commander of the Air Force Reserve.

In 1986, after the death of his grandfather, industrialist Marcel Dassault joined two of the family businesses (Europe Falcon Service and Dassault Aviation). Later, he was vice-president of the Valmonde press group (owner of “Current values”), which was sold in 2006; director of the “Journal des Finances”; director of Socpresse, which became Dassault Media within the Figaro group in 2011; then Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Dassault Group.

Like his father, Olivier Dassault had also made a name for himself in politics, especially when he was elected deputy for Oise. in 1988, a position from which he resigned in 1997 but was re-elected in 2007, again against his socialist rival Yves Rome. A mandate that he maintained today, under the colors of the Republicans.

In 2017, before the presidential election, he had positioned himself in favor of the candidate Emmanuel Macron against Marine Le Pen.

President Macron is the one who announced his death in a post on Twitter. “Olivier Dassault loved France. Captain of industry, deputy, local elected representative, reserve commander in the air force: throughout his life, he never ceased to serve our country, to promote its assets. His sudden death is a great loss. Condolences to his family and loved ones ”.” Assured the president.

“I am thinking of his family and loved ones, who must be suffering terribly,” said Richard Ferrand, president of the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament for which Dassault was a deputy.

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