Introduction

Gunter Sachs remains one of the most fascinating figures of 20th-century European high society—a German-born billionaire heir, art collector, photographer, and jet-set icon whose life blended wealth, glamour, intellect, and tragedy. Best known today as the late ex-husband of French screen legend Brigitte Bardot, Sachs lived far beyond that single association.

As the world reflects on Brigitte Bardot’s death at age 91 from natural causes, renewed attention has turned to the men who shaped her life during her most iconic years. Among them, none embodied the excess and romance of the 1960s quite like Gunter Sachs.

Who Was Gunter Sachs?

Gunter Sachs was a German-born billionaire, photographer, filmmaker, art collector, and socialite who became a defining member of the glamorous international “jet set” of the 1960s. He was known for his extravagant gestures, intellectual curiosity, and deep engagement with art, culture, and astrology.

Born into immense industrial wealth, Sachs used his privilege not only for luxury but also for creative and intellectual pursuits, earning respect beyond gossip columns.

Why Gunter Sachs Is Relevant Now

Interest in Gunter Sachs has resurfaced following the global news of Brigitte Bardot’s death in December 2025. As retrospectives revisit Bardot’s life, marriages, and cultural impact, Sachs stands out as a symbol of her most flamboyant and internationally mythologized era.

While Bardot represented rebellion and sensual freedom on screen, Sachs embodied wealth, romance, and spectacle off it—making their union one of the most talked-about celebrity marriages of the 1960s.

Early Life & Childhood

Gunter Sachs was born on November 14, 1932, in Mainz, southern Germany. His early life was shaped by privilege but also tragedy.

He was raised during a turbulent period in European history and experienced personal loss early, events that would quietly influence his worldview and later fascination with fate and astrology.

Family Background, Parents & Siblings

Gunter Sachs was the grandson of Adam Opel, founder of the Opel automobile company, one of Germany’s most significant industrial dynasties.

• Father: Willy Sachs, an industrialist who died by suicide in 1958

• Mother: Elinor von Opel

• Siblings: Sachs was notably private, and no widely documented siblings played a public role

The same year his father died, Sachs also lost his first wife—two devastating events that deeply marked his life.

Education

Sachs was highly educated and intellectually inclined. He studied mathematics and economics, disciplines that reflected his analytical nature despite his reputation for indulgence.

In 1976, he became a Swiss citizen, later settling in Gstaad, Switzerland.

Career and Creative Pursuits

Although heir to immense wealth, Sachs carved his own identity through creativity and intellect:

• Photographer and Filmmaker: He won awards for documentary films and photography

• Art Collector: Owned works by Andy Warhol, Picasso, and other modern masters

• Astrology Enthusiast: Founded an astrology institute and published statistical studies on zodiac signs

Sachs famously commissioned Andy Warhol to create portraits of both himself and Brigitte Bardot, immortalizing their era in pop art.

Connection to Brigitte Bardot

Gunter Sachs met Brigitte Bardot in Saint-Tropez in May 1966. Within weeks, they married in Las Vegas.

One of the most legendary romantic gestures in celebrity history followed:
Just hours after meeting Bardot, Sachs hired a helicopter to drop hundreds of red roses over her home in southern France.

“It’s not every day that a man drops a tonne of roses in your yard,” Bardot later wrote.

Their marriage lasted just over three years, ending in 1969, but it became one of the most photographed and mythologized unions of the decade.

Personal Life & Relationships

Gunter Sachs was married three times and had three children.

• First wife: Anne-Marie Faure (died in 1958)

• Second wife: Brigitte Bardot (1966–1969)

• Third wife: Mirja Larsson, a former Swedish model (married in 1969)

He also had a notable romantic relationship with Queen Soraya Esfandiary of Iran in the early 1960s.

Despite constant tabloid attention, Sachs remained discreet and cultivated an air of elegance rather than scandal.

Net Worth

While exact figures varied, Gunter Sachs was widely regarded as a billionaire heir, with wealth derived from the Opel automotive fortune and investments.

After his death, parts of his art collection sold for tens of millions of dollars, underscoring both his financial power and cultural taste.

Cause of Death

Gunter Sachs died on May 7, 2011, at the age of 78. His family confirmed that he died by suicide, shooting himself at his chalet in Gstaad, Switzerland.

In a statement, those close to him suggested he wished to avoid prolonged suffering from old age—a private decision handled with dignity by his family and associates.

Brigitte Bardot’s animal rights foundation later said she was “devastated” by the news.

Interesting Facts About Gunter Sachs

• He was a core figure of the 1960s European jet set

• Owned Warhol portraits of himself and Bardot

• Fascinated by astrology and statistical probability

• Held Swiss citizenship later in life

• Once said: “A year with Bardot was worth ten with anyone else.”

 

Recent News: Brigitte Bardot’s Death

Following Brigitte Bardot’s death at 91, public interest has surged around her marriages and personal history. Sachs represents a defining chapter—when art, wealth, rebellion, and celebrity collided at full force.

Their relationship remains one of the most iconic unions of mid-century European culture.

Conclusion

Gunter Sachs lived a life of extremes—extraordinary wealth, artistic depth, legendary romance, and quiet tragedy. Though history often remembers him as Brigitte Bardot’s ex-husband, Sachs was far more: a cultural figure who embodied the glamour and contradictions of his era.

As Bardot’s story closes, Sachs’s life stands as a mirror to a time when love, art, and excess burned brightly—and briefly.

FAQ

Who was Gunter Sachs?
Gunter Sachs was a German-born billionaire, art collector, photographer, and heir to the Opel fortune, known for his jet-set lifestyle.

Was Gunter Sachs married to Brigitte Bardot?
Yes, they married in 1966 and divorced in 1969 after a highly publicized relationship.

How did Gunter Sachs die?
He died by suicide in 2011 at his chalet in Gstaad, Switzerland, aged 78.

What was Gunter Sachs known for besides wealth?
He was known for photography, documentary filmmaking, art collecting, and astrology research.

Why is Gunter Sachs trending now?
Interest has resurfaced following the death of Brigitte Bardot at age 91, prompting renewed focus on her past marriages.