Tony O'Reilly

Who is Tony O'Reilly?

Sir Anthony Joseph Francis "Tony" O'Reilly, Kt., is an Irish businessman and former international rugby union player. He is best known for his involvement in the Independent News & Media Group, which he led from 1973 to 2009, and as former CEO and Chairman of the H.J. Heinz Company. He was the leading shareholder of Waterford Wedgwood. Perhaps Ireland's first billionaire, as of 26 May 2014 O'Reilly is being pursued in the Irish courts for debts amounting to €22 million by AIB, following loses amounting to hundreds of millions of euro in his unsuccessful attempt to stop Denis O'Brien from assuming control of Independent News & Media.

As a rugby player, he represented Ireland, the British and Irish Lions and the Barbarians and is enshrined as a member of the International Rugby Board's Hall of Fame. With six children and 19 grandchildren, and married to a Greek shipping heiress and horse breeder, he lives primarily in Lyford Cay in the Bahamas, and Kilcullen in Ireland, with frequent stays at Glandore.