What was Rainer Schaller's net worth? Gold's Gym owner and family feared dead in plane crash
BARRA DE PARISMINA, COSTA RICA: Business tycoon Rainer Schaller, who owned the property in Bunyola which was rented out by Cristiano Ronaldo for his family summer holiday this year, is feared dead in a plane crash. The 53-year-old had amassed a huge fortune in the fitness business as the owner of McFit and the world-famous Gold’s Gym franchise.
On Friday, October 21, Schaller was reportedly among the passengers of a plane that crashed in Costa Rica, his company confirmed. RSG Group said in a statement, “We can confirm that Rainer Schaller, his family, and two other people were on board the aircraft at the time of the crash. As the situation is currently still being investigated on-site, we cannot comment further at this time and ask for your understanding.”
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Schaller was accompanied by his partner, Christiane Schikorsky, their two children, and a fitness trainer in the ill-fated plane. According to Associated Press, while the company did not confirm the death of Schaller or his family, two bodies have been found by search teams. As per the news agency, RSG Group said, “We are shocked, stunned, and full of grief about this tragic accident."
What was Rainer Schaller's net worth?
RSchaller's net worth was estimated to be around $250 million as of 2022. He drove his income from his fitness centre and brand, McFit, which is the largest gym chain in Germany with over a thousand members in 246 studios with locations including Italy, Spain, Poland, and Austria.
He was the founder and CEO of the RSG Group, which manages a number of fitness franchises around the world like McFit, John Reed besides Gold's Gym. The businessman acquired Gold's Gym a few years ago after it declared bankruptcy due to the pandemic. In the fitness industry, Gold's Gym is especially well-known in the United States. Over the years, the fitness brand has collaborated with several celebrities, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Clint Eastwood, Muhammad Ali, Hillary Swank.
What happened to the crash?
Meanwhile, the plane reportedly lost contact with the control tower, near Barra del Parismina in the Caribbean Sea. According to TMZ, the Costa Rican Coast Guard now claims to have uncovered multiple pieces of what they believe to be debris from the plane, including two dead bodies.
Although the identities of the two bodies have not yet been made public, some reports claim that Costa Rican authorities are listing Schaller as one of six individuals (including the pilot) to be dead. Various personal items, including baggage, have been found in the open water while other passengers remain missing.
Meanwhile, the Bunyola estate which was rented out to Ronaldo has a chapel, a gym, a swimming pool surrounded by palm trees, jacuzzis, a multi-sport court for football or basketball and a sand court for beach volleyball. Two vehicles were shipped from Valencia - a Bugatti Centodieci, valued at eight million euros, and a Mercedes all-terrain for the soccer star's vacation.