Czech Republic’s richest man, Petr Kellner, killed in Alaska helicopter crash

[Boats]

Czech Republic’s richest man, Petr Kellner, killed in Alaska helicopter crash
By: Lee Brown - New York Post - 03-29-21
Re: https://nypost.com/2021/03/29/czechs...icopter-crash/

Photo link: https://nypost.com/wp-content/upload...8&h=410&crop=1
Czech billionaire Petr Kellner was killed in a helicopter crash in Alaska along with four other people on March 28, 2021.Via REUTERS

The Czech Republic’s richest man, billionaire investor Petr Kellner, was one of five people killed in a helicopter crash in Alaska, officials have confirmed.

The 56-year-old founder of investment group PPF was among four passengers on a heli-ski tour who died alongside their pilot Saturday near Knik Glacier northeast of Anchorage, Alaska State Troopers said.

“An unbelievable tragedy,” said Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, who offered “sincere condolences” to Kellner’s wife, Renata, and his four children.

“I’m terribly sorry about it,” Babis said.

Kellner, who had been married twice, avoided public attention but was known to be a keen skier. A picture of him snowboarding was published in one PPF annual report.

Kellner made his start selling copy machines following the 1989 Velvet Revolution — and by his death was worth $17.4 billion, according to Forbes.

He owned a 98.93% stake in the PPF Group, which expressed “deepest grief” at the death of its founder. Kellner owned a 98.93% stake in the PPF Group, which expressed “deepest grief” at the death of its founder. - EPA/MARTIN DIVISEK

He was also a former co-owner of Czech soccer club Slavia Prague, which shared “great sadness” and offered “its deepest and most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Kellner.”

Kellner had also financed a thinktank set up by former President Vaclav Klaus, architect of the 1990s privatization that allowed Kellner’s business rise.

“His life story was an example of harnessed opportunity offered to young people by the economic transformation,” Klaus said. “He unfolded his initial success from privatization to an extent reaching far beyond our country’s borders.”

Kellner died alongside another Czech Republic tourist, Benjamin Larochaix, 50, authorities.

They died alongside two guides — Gregory Harms, 52, of Colorado, and Sean McMannany, 38, of Girdwood, Alaska — as well as their 33-year-old local pilot, Zachary Russel, authorities said.

A third, unidentified guest was also injured in the crash, which is still being investigated.

Another photo link of the Knik Glacier in Alaska where he supposedly went down somewhere in there but shown on this photo:
Re: https://nypost.com/wp-content/upload...rip=all&w=1024

Kellner’s funeral will be private for his family, his company said.

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Well it goes to say with all that money - ya can't take with you when you die.
Best wishes to his wife and family for their loss. Gone at 56 years of age
well at least his family will be well taken care of. We send our respects
to them.
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Boats