Athina Onassis makes another major life change, leaves the business world for "personal reasons"

Aristotle Onassis's granddaughter has stepped down from her position at a French multinational retail and distribution company.

JULY 25, 2026 4:42 PM EDTJUL 25, 2026, 4:42 PM EDT

Athina Onassis has stepped away from the corporate world at 41, according to financial media reports cited by El Español. Groupe Casino, the French retail giant where she served on the board of directors, confirmed the news in a brief statement issued through its communications department. The company said Onassis resigned from the board last June "for personal reasons." Her quiet exit brings to a close a tenure of roughly two years, according to the financial publication La Minute Riches.

Christina Onassis, daughter of Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, is pictured with her young daughter, Athina, during an outing at the Bois de Boulogne in Paris, France.

Athina Onassis' Quiet Departure Raises Questions

The decision has surprised business leaders, investors, and market analysts alike. The granddaughter of shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis is known for maintaining an exceptionally private life and rarely making her business decisions public. While Groupe Casino cited personal reasons for her resignation, it offered no additional details. That lack of explanation has fueled speculation about the circumstances surrounding her departure.

The Greek heiress attended the runway show to support her longtime friend, French designer Stéphane Rolland.

Often described as one of Europe's most enigmatic heiresses, Athina Onassis has earned a reputation for staying out of the spotlight despite her immense wealth. Although she has remained involved behind the scenes in select ventures, she rarely grants interviews or seeks public attention. Last April, however, she made a rare appearance in Spain to attend French designer Stéphane Rolland's runway show during Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week.

Athina Onassis made a rare public appearance at Stéphane Rolland’s show during Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week.

The Greek shipping heiress attended the event to support her longtime friend as he made his Spanish debut. For the occasion, the accomplished equestrian wore a striking red asymmetrical blouse and trouser ensemble that left one shoulder bare, paired with black heeled ballet flats.

From Corporate Boardrooms to the Equestrian World

The famously private heiress served on Groupe Casino’s board of directors for roughly two years.

An accomplished elite show jumper, Athina has competed on some of the sport's most prestigious circuits, including the Longines Global Champions Tour, the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour, and the Global Champions Tour of Madrid. Although she has reduced her competition schedule since 2023, allowing other riders to campaign her horses, she remains deeply involved in the equestrian world. She organizes the Athina Onassis Horse Show in Saint-Tropez as part of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Ramatuelle-Saint-Tropez. She also owns stables in Valkenswaard, in the southern Netherlands, where she lives on an estate complete with a working farm and state-of-the-art facilities for her horses.

Once called “the richest little girl in the world,” Athina inherited the Onassis fortune following her mother’s death.

Her lifelong passion for horses led her to marry her trainer, Brazilian show jumper Doda Miranda. The couple separated in May 2016 after 11 years of marriage and later finalized their divorce. Reports at the time alleged that Miranda had maintained a double life throughout much of their marriage.

Why Athina Onassis Was Called "The Richest Little Girl in the World"

Athina Onassis was once known as "the richest little girl in the world." At just three years old, she became the sole heir to the vast fortune of shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis following the death of her mother, Christina Onassis, who had left her entire estate to her daughter.

Although she has reduced her competition schedule, Athina remains closely involved in the international equestrian world.

For much of her childhood, Athina was raised by her father, Thierry Roussel, far removed from her Greek Orthodox heritage. As she grew older, however, she embraced both her family's legacy and the fortune that came with it. That decision gradually created distance between her and her father.

Athina Onassis was raised primarily by her father, Thierry Roussel, away from her family’s Greek roots.

A Life Lived Far From the Spotlight

True to her intensely private nature, Athina has given very few interviews over the years. In a rare 2013 conversation with the French equestrian magazine L'Éperon, she explained why she has always chosen to stay out of the public eye. "I've never been one for social life," she said. "Everyone likes to live their own way. I enjoy the peace and quiet we have."

Athina Onassis has long preferred a quiet life centered on horses, privacy, and her estate in the Netherlands.