Paul-Loup Sulitzer, French writer and businessman, passed away on February 6, 2025, at the age of 78. He died in Mauritius, where he had been residing for several months, following a stroke. His daughter, Olivia Sulitzer, confirmed the news, stating that he had been hospitalized a few days earlier after a fall.
A Rapid Literary Success
In the 1980s, Paul-Loup Sulitzer experienced a spectacular rise. He published novels mixing adventure and finance, inaugurating the genre of the "financial western." His works, such as Money (1980), Cash (1981), and Fortune (1982), met with immense success. They sold millions of copies and were translated into numerous languages. Sulitzer presented himself as a self-made man and a business expert, captivating a wide audience eager for stories of financial success.
A Turbulent Personal Life
The private life of Paul-Loup Sulitzer was marked by several unions. In 1968, at the age of 22, he married actress Lyne Chardonnet. Their marriage ended in divorce two years later. Subsequently, he married Magali Colcanap, with whom he had a daughter, Olivia, born in 1974. From 1984 to 1992, he shared his life with stylist Alejandra Di Andia, who gave him another daughter, Joy, born in 1985.
In 1993, he married Delphine Jacobson, with whom he had two sons, James-Robert and Jacques-Edouard. This marriage ended in a difficult divorce, leading to a long legal battle over his fortune. From 2002 to 2007, he was in a relationship with Polish painter Eva Kowalewska. His last known partner was Mauritian Supriya Answya Devi Rathoar, whom he considered as the one who "saved his life" after his health issues.
Controversies and Legal Troubles
Despite his success, Paul-Loup Sulitzer was at the center of several controversies. He was accused of not being the true author of his novels, using "ghostwriters" to write on his behalf. This practice was notably revealed by L’Express and other media. Writer and journalist Jean-Paul Enthoven claimed that Sulitzer dictated ideas, but the books were written by others.
On the legal front, in 2002, Sulitzer was convicted for receiving stolen goods in the Elf affair, one of the largest political-financial scandals in France. He allegedly received millions of euros in fictitious consulting fees. He was also prosecuted for tax fraud. These cases tarnished his public image and affected his career.
Decline and Health Issues
The scandals and legal troubles significantly weakened Paul-Loup Sulitzer. In 2004, he suffered a stroke, followed by a complicated divorce from Delphine Jacobson, which cost him a large part of his fortune. He went through a period of depression, even mentioning suicidal thoughts. His health declined, and he gradually withdrew from the public scene. He spent his last years between Belgium, Nice, and Mauritius, where he hoped to find some well-being.
A Contrasted Legacy
Paul-Loup Sulitzer left behind around forty works, which he described as "financial westerns." Although his success was immense, his use of ghostwriters and his legal troubles tarnished his reputation. Nevertheless, he remains an emblematic figure of popular French literature of the 1980s, embodying both the dream of financial success and the excesses of flamboyant capitalism.
