After graduating from the naval academy in 1955, he served as an officer until his forced retirement and exile to a then-isolated Greek island due to his opposition to the military dictatorship that ruled the country from 1967 to 1974 .

Mr. Vardinoyannis joined the family business in the early 1970s and began building a vast network of businesses that eventually included shipping, banks, hotels, sports clubs, newspapers and national television stations .

He supported the Robert F. Kennedy Foundation for Human Rights and led numerous charitable initiatives with his wife, Marianna, who died last year at age 86.

Conservative Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Tuesday paid tribute to Mr. Vardinoyannis and his philanthropic work.

“It is with deep sadness that I bid farewell to Vardis Vardinoyiannis, the patriarch of a family that has left an indelible mark on the economic and social landscape of our country over the past decades,” Mitsotakis said.

“Behind his always serious look, he hid many facets: from boldness and dynamism in commercial competition to countless charitable initiatives, many of which he preferred to keep anonymous. »

In 1990, Mr. Vardinoyannis survived an assassination attempt by the far-left militant group November 17, when a car containing explosives and anti-tank rocket launchers was used to target his moving armored vehicle . Members of the group were ultimately arrested and convicted 13 years later for multiple, deadly attacks against politicians, U.S. officials and local business executives.

Mr. Vardinoyannis’ financial and political influence grew after forging a partnership with Saudi oil giant Aramco in the mid-1990s, as Greece gained prosperity as a member of the European Union after decades difficulties and political instability.

He maintained close ties to the Kennedy family, arranging the wedding in Greece of Rory Kennedy – daughter of Robert F. Kennedy – to writer and documentarian Mark Bailey in 1999.

Later in life, Mr. Vardinoyannis became closely involved in charitable projects with his wife, who was a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and director of a children’s cancer charity.

He leaves five children.