Bernard Tapie was a multifaceted French figure, excelling as a businessman, politician, and occasional actor, singer, and TV host. He was famous for serving as the Minister of City Affairs in the government of Pierre Bérégovoy. He was affiliated with the Radical Party of the Left. He specialized in revitalizing financially troubled companies, most notably Adidas during his ownership from 1990 to 1993. Tapie was also a sports team owner; his cycling team, La Vie Claire, clinched the Tour de France twice in 1985 and 1986, while his football club, Olympique de Marseille, secured the French championship four consecutive times and triumphed in the 1992–93 UEFA Champions League. Additionally, he presided over Olympique de Marseille from 1986 to 1994, overseeing their remarkable five-time consecutive French championship victories. In 2023, Netflix released a biographical limited series, "Class Act," chronicling his remarkable life and journey.
Bernard Tapie Family Details
Bernard Tapie was born on 26th January 1943. His birthplace was in Paris, Occupied France. Bernard Roger Tapiei was his birth name. For the last time, he celebrated his 78th birthday in 2021. His nationality was French and his ethnicity was French-White. About his family, he was the son of his father, Jean-Baptiste Tapie, and his mother, Raymonde Nodot. About his education, he was a high school graduate.
Bernard Tapie Career
- Bernard Tapie, a prominent businessman, was known for his expertise in reviving bankrupt companies, with Adidas being his most renowned acquisition from 1990 to 1993.
- Additionally, he ventured into sports ownership, achieving significant success.
- His cycling team, La Vie Claire, secured victory in the Tour de France twice, in 1985 and 1986.
- In the realm of football, his club Olympique de Marseille clinched the French championship four consecutive times and achieved UEFA Champions League glory in 1993.
- La Vie Claire, originally a chain of health product stores, evolved into a powerhouse cycling team.
- The team's formation was a response to a contentious split between multiple Tour de France winner Bernard Hinault and his former team manager Cyrille Guimard after Laurent Fignon's 1983 Tour de France win.
- Hinault, determined to lead his team, established La Vie Claire, attracting talents like Greg LeMond.
- Together, they secured successive Tour victories, while Fignon and Guimard's fortunes dwindled. Hinault
- had laid the foundation for this team even before securing financial support from Bernard Tapie.
- From 1986 to 1994, he served as the president of Olympique de Marseille, overseeing their remarkable five-time consecutive French championship victories (1989-1993) and the historic 1992-93 UEFA Champions League triumph.
- In a different realm, Tapie acquired the sailing ship Club Mediterrannee in 1985, which he renamed Phocea.
- He meticulously restored it in Marseille, where he also managed his football club.
- In 1988, Tapie set sail on the Phocea, breaking world records for Atlantic Ocean crossings.
Media Career
- In 1995, facing personal bankruptcy, ineligibility for political office, and a football ban, Bernard Tapie shifted his focus to artistic pursuits.
- His first venture was into film, where he starred alongside Fabrice Luchini in Claude Lelouch's 1996 movie "Hommes, femmes, mode d'emploi" (Men, Women: A User's Manual).
- In 1998, he collaborated on a song with Doc Gynéco, "C'est beau la vie."
- By 2000, he embarked on a theater career, earning praise from French critics for his portrayal of Randle McMurphy in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest."
- A 2001 documentary titled "Who is Bernard Tapie?" shed light on his life.
- From 2001 to 2005, he acted in theater productions and appeared as a police chief in the French TV series "Valence."
- In 2018, he faced a double cancer diagnosis (stomach and esophagus) and underwent treatment in France and Belgium, including experimental therapies.
- Finally, in 2023, Netflix released the biographical limited series "Class Act" about his life and journey.
Controversies Details
- In 1993, the same year Olympique de Marseille won the Champions League, Bernard Tapie faced accusations of fixing a match between his club and Valenciennes, allegedly motivated by a desire to conserve his top players' energy for more critical matches.
- As a consequence, his club was stripped of its French league championship, though not the Champions League title, and eventually relegated to the second division due to match-fixing suspicions.
- Subsequently, in 1994, Tapie was subject to a criminal investigation for complicity in corruption and witness tampering, resulting in a 1995 sentencing by the Court of Appeals of Douai to two years in prison, including 8 months non-suspended, along with three years of civic rights deprivation.
- From 1993 to 2008, a protracted legal battle unfolded between Tapie and Crédit Lyonnais bank over the sale of Adidas, culminating in a 2008 ruling that awarded Tapie €404 million in compensation from the French Ministry of Finance, under Christine Lagarde's leadership, who chose not to contest the decision.
- Nevertheless, in December 2015, a French court ordered Tapie to return this compensation with interest, leading to legal ramifications for Lagarde, although her conviction was not classified as a criminal record.
- Over the years, the arbitration ruling in favor of Tapie faced various legal challenges, with the dispute still ongoing at the time of Tapie's death in 2021, marking 26 years of proceedings.
Bernard Tapie Death
On the morning of October 3, 2021, Bernard Tapie's family sadly announced his passing. He died at the age of 78. His death cause was stomach cancer. President Emmanuel Macron extended his condolences, acknowledging Tapie's enduring impact as a source of inspiration for generations of French citizens, citing his ambition, energy, and enthusiasm. Meanwhile, Olympique de Marseille (OM) expressed profound sorrow at the loss, recognizing that Tapie's departure would leave an irreplaceable void in the hearts of the Marseillais and ensure his everlasting presence in the club's legendary history.
Bernard Tapie Wife
Bernard Tapie was a married man, having married Dominique Tapie in 1987. Their marriage brought forth four children: Stéphane Tapie, Laurent Tapie, Sophie Tapie, and Nathalie Tapie. The family remained close-knit until Bernard Tapie's passing. Sadly, in 2021, both Tapie and his wife endured a harrowing home invasion robbery. It is worth noting that Tapie was known to be straightforward about his sexuality.
Bernard Tapie Net Worth
Bernard Tapie was a versatile individual whose net worth was estimated at approximately $150 million at the time of his passing. He amassed his wealth through diverse avenues, including his successful business ventures, involvement in politics, as well as engagements in entertainment and music. Throughout his life, Tapie embraced a rich and varied range of pursuits, truly living life to the fullest before his eventual demise.
Bernard Tapie Height
Bernard Tapie was a handsome man who possessed an average body type and a striking appearance. He stood at a height of 5 feet 9 inches (1.77 meters) and maintained a weight of 55 kilograms (121 pounds). His hair was characterized by a greyish-white hue, while his eyes were deep black in color.
