Philippe Junot | |
---|---|
Born |
Paris, France |
29 April 1940
Occupation | Venture capitalist, property developer |
Known for | First husband of Princess Caroline of Monaco |
Spouse(s) | Princess Caroline of Monaco (m. 1978; div. 1980) |
Partner(s) | Nina Wendelboe-Larsen (1987–1997) Helén Wendel |
Children | 4 |
Parent(s) | Michel Junot Lydia Thykjær |
Philippe Junot (born 19 April 1940 in Paris) is a venture capitalist and property developer with business interests in Paris, New York City, Detroit, and Montreal. He is also known as the first husband of Princess Caroline of Monaco.
He is the son of Michel Junot, Deputy Mayor of Paris, and Lydia Thykjær, the daughter of a Danish industrialist. His family's claim to the family of General Jean-Andoche Junot cannot be traced.
Junot started his career in the United States (he was an early investor in the Jack in the Box fast-food hamburger chain), and then formed a series of small start up companies in France, one of which specialized in housekeeping. Junot is one of the founders of Access International Advisors Group (AIA Group), a hedge fund platform. He was among the large number of investors to be duped by Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme which collapsed in late 2008.
In Monaco, he married civilly on 28 June 1978, and religiously on 29 June, Princess Caroline, eldest daughter of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and former Hollywood icon Grace Kelly. The couple were divorced on 9 October 1980.
He settled down with Nina Wendelboe-Larsen in October 1987, and is the father of three children: Victoria, Isabelle, and Alexis. The couple separated 10 years later.