Bernard Tapie

Bernard Tapie, born on January 26, 1943, was a multifaceted French businessman and politician, known for his dynamic presence in various fields including sports, entertainment, and politics. He served as the Minister of City Affairs under Prime Minister Pierre Bérégovoy, showcasing his influence in the political arena.

As a prominent entrepreneur, Tapie managed a diverse portfolio of companies, most notably owning the iconic sports brand Adidas and the renowned football club Olympique de Marseille. His business acumen extended to the Bernard Tapie Group and the La Provence Group, which publishes the newspaper La Provence and Corse-Matin.

In the early 1980s, he made a mark in the sports world by presenting his cycling team, La Vie claire, before acquiring Olympique de Marseille a few years later. His political journey saw him engage with the radicals, a centre-left party, where he held various positions including deputy for Bouches-du-Rhône and European deputy, achieving notable electoral success.

However, Tapie's illustrious career was marred by legal troubles stemming from several financial scandals. He was convicted in the VA-OM affair, leading to a six-month imprisonment in 1997, and faced accusations in the Phocéa and Testut affairs. Despite these challenges, he continued to make headlines, particularly in the 2010s when an arbitration awarded him four hundred three million euros in compensation related to the Crédit Lyonnais affair, although his death ultimately concluded the ongoing criminal proceedings.