Chris Lazari

Chris Lazari was born in Dora, Cyprus,[3] the son of a builder.[4] In 1962, he emigrated to England.[5] At the time, he was 16 years old. The event was prompted by the discovery that his parents were in fact his foster family.[3] According to Lazari, "I was in my third year at the Lanition Gymnasium of Limassol. I boarded the MV Messapia and sailed to England."[3] He left Cyprus with just £20.[4]

With money he saved from washing dishes and working as a waiter, Lazari studied fashion design in London[4] and set up the Drendie Girl clothing label, which successfully sold in London's high-street retailers.[2][4] In 1978, using the profits from his fashion business, he moved into property. "My father was a builder and I was taught the value of real estate from a very early age."[4]

In 2002, it was reported that Lazari owned commercial and residential property in London's Mayfair and Baker Street, as well as two acres (0.81 ha) along Tottenham Court Road.[6]

His company Lazari Investments owned 2.5 million sq ft (230,000 m²) of London property as of 2015, most of which were offices.[2] Six estates formed 92% of the property portfolio, all in the prime West End of London with a seventh property in north London. The most recent acquisition was the Brunswick Centre, purchased for £135 million in 2014, bringing 45 retail shops, a cinema and 408 flats.[4]

In 2012 Lazari stated, "In my early twenties I began investing in small properties to secure my young family’s financial position with money I earned from my involvement in the fashion business."[5] In May 2014, The Sunday Times estimated his net worth at £1.104 billion.[1]

Lazari and his wife Maritsa had three children and lived in Hampstead, London.[2][7] His wife Maritza is listed as a co-founder of Lazari Investments, and their three children, Len, Nicholas and Andrie are all directors. The two sons have economics degrees, and Andrie has a property law background.[4]

The president of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, is a former schoolmate and a close friend.[2] In 2014, Lazari said that if Anastasiades ever needed to use a private jet, then he would pay for it.[5]

Lazari died on 27 July 2015 at his home in north London of a heart attack.[8]