Bernard Tapie achieved prominence through the aggressive acquisition and turnaround of struggling companies during the 1980s. Born in the 20th arrondissement of Paris in 1943, he transitioned from a career in corporate restructuring to significant roles in French professional sports, national politics, and media ownership, before his death in 2021 at the hôtel de Cavoye.
Corporate Expansion and Adidas
Tapie established his fortune by purchasing bankrupt businesses, including paper and printing firms like Diguet-Denis and Duverger, and the battery producer Leclanché Wonder. In 1990, he acquired Adidas for 1.6 billion francs. His ownership of the sportswear brand became the subject of a prolonged legal dispute with Crédit Lyonnais, which acted on his behalf during the company's subsequent sale to Robert Louis-Dreyfus. Tapie alleged the bank failed to disclose the true market value of the brand, leading to years of arbitration and litigation against the French state.
Sports Management
In the sports sector, Tapie owned the cycling team La Vie Claire, which achieved victory in the Tour de France in 1985 and 1986 with riders Bernard Hinault and Greg LeMond. As president of Olympique de Marseille from 1986 to 1994, he oversaw a period of dominance where the club secured four consecutive French league titles and the 1993 UEFA Champions League. He also owned the 70-meter sailing vessel Phocea, which he used to break the world record for crossing the Atlantic Ocean in 1988.
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Tapie served in various political capacities throughout the 1990s, including as a member of the French National Assembly, a Member of the European Parliament, and Minister of City Affairs under the government of Pierre Bérégovoy. His political trajectory was disrupted by numerous legal challenges. In 1993, he faced allegations of match-fixing involving Olympique de Marseille and Valenciennes, resulting in his club being stripped of its league title. Subsequent convictions for corruption and witness tampering led to his imprisonment in 1997.
Media and Final Years
Beyond business and politics, Tapie worked as an actor, singer, and television host. He owned the La Provence Group, which published the newspaper La Provence and Corse-Matin. In his later years, he remained involved in legal proceedings regarding a 404 million euro arbitration award he received in 2008, which was later subject to cancellation. In 2021, he was targeted in a violent home invasion robbery before his death later that year. He is buried at the Cimetière civil de Mazargues.
Fast facts
- Born: 1943, 20th arrondissement of Paris
- Died: 2021, hôtel de Cavoye
- Minister of City Affairs: 1992-1993
- President of Olympique de Marseille: 1986-1994
- Purchased Adidas: 1990
- Award: European of the Year (2002)
- Buried: Cimetière civil de Mazargues
Questions readers ask
What were Bernard Tapie's primary business interests?
He focused on acquiring bankrupt companies and managing sports organizations, notably Adidas, Olympique de Marseille, and the cycling team La Vie Claire.
Why did Bernard Tapie face legal action regarding the sale of Adidas?
He sued Crédit Lyonnais for failing to inform him of the actual market value of Adidas when the bank sold the company on his behalf to Robert Louis-Dreyfus.
What led to the end of his political career?
His political involvement concluded following multiple legal convictions, including a sentence for match-fixing related to the 1993 Valenciennes football game.
Achievements
- Holdings: La Provence, Olympique de Marseille and Adidas AG
- Affiliated with TF1 and RMC
