Villa “White House” in Igls becomes a hotel

Entrepreneurs in custody

Benko’s favorite villa becomes a hotel

The villa of the Signa founder René Benko in Igls, Austria is cleared. The building, which was called “White House”, is to be converted into a hotel.

Most of them just called the building in Igls, Austria, only briefly “White House”: White House. Now the sophisticated villa of the fallen Austrian real estate speculator René Benko is facing new use. According to information from the “Manager Magazine”, Benko’s former domicile in Austria is to be converted into a hotel.

The former Signa boss Benko has been in custody in Vienna since January. The public prosecutor suspects the 47-year-old Austrian to have hidden assets towards creditors and authorities as part of insolvency proceedings. The lawyers of the former billionaire are silent about the allegations.

Benko had already earned his first money with the expansion of attic apartments as a 17-year-old. In 2006 he founded Signa holding and did a billion-dollar assets with real estate transactions. However, the funds hiked back and forth through a complex and nested network of subsidiaries and foundations. The white favorite villa in Igls belonged to a foundation through which Benko’s mother had an impact. So Benko also came to the right to live in Igls.

The house should have an extensive wellness area. Even the “Blue Grotto” by Capri is said to have been replicated. Now the last furniture has also been cleared and the property is to be converted into a luxury hotel. The value is estimated at up to 70 million euros. However, the renovation from the private house to the wellness oasis is difficult, as experts report.

Among other things, Benko had taken over the battered department store group Karstadt in Germany and later merged with the competitor Kaufhof. The entrepreneur started the Elbtower in Hamburg.

Use nothing. In March 2024 the windy construct of the Austrian collapsed, his Signa Holding had to register bankruptcy. Benko was arrested in January. His custody was extended by another two months in February.