22 years ago, Giorgis Monogyios had come face to face with death again. Then fate had spared him. Unfortunately, however, on the cold night of last Thursday, it did not smile on him for the second time. It was May 5, 2000, when the then 25-year-old Giorgis Monogios was riding his Italian sports motorcycle, a Ducati, in Mykonos.
Together with Alexis, his army buddy, they were going swimming on the beach of Ornos. Although he could feel his friend clutching at him in fear, Giorgis was driving with no tomorrow, as always. His passion for gas, speed and high performance vehicles - with 2 or 4 wheels - was one of the main characteristics of his personality. According to present-day testimonies of his friends, apart from being a reckless driver, Giorgis Monogyios was considered a very good, fast and experienced driver, with a sense and control of the reactions of the motorcycle or car he happened to be driving at any given time. Also, George would never get on a two-wheeler, of any size or horsepower, without first having worn his helmet. The same was not true, however, of his bachelor friend Alexis.
He, for some unknown reason, was not wearing a helmet when he sat in the passenger seat in the saddle of the Ducati behind George. Perhaps the certainty that he knew the Myconian roads like the palm of his hand, perhaps the lightness and relaxation of the moment, contributed to the helmet neglect. Alexis, after all, had travelled to Mykonos for a short holiday with George, shortly before the end of his service, as he was on leave of absence from the Commando Forces.
On the way, and as Tzortzis was travelling at high speed by the standards of the island's narrow country roads, a rented car driven by a foreign tourist suddenly made a U-turn, without making sure that the road was open in front and behind, without paying the slightest attention to the double dividing line markings on the asphalt. The Ducati crashed into the rental vehicle almost without braking, as there was no room to slow down or maneuver.
The collision was violent and, unfortunately for Tzortzi Monogiou's friend, the commando Alexis, it was fatal: the young man suffered crushing fractures all over his body and died almost instantly, while the driver of the motorcycle was dragged on the asphalt for dozens of meters and was finally miraculously saved, only with some abrasions and minor injuries. The helmet he was wearing and, presumably, his good fortune, had protected him. The accident in Mykonos was the first of a series of incidents that deeply marked the short, as it turned out, life of Giorgis Monogiou.
Nevertheless, after this tragic event and after three years had passed, Giorgis found himself in the spotlight in a completely different and rather unexpected way: he participated in the reality TV show "The Wall", probably claiming his own share of publicity. He thought, possibly, that the notoriety he would gain would help him to make acquaintances and raise his social status, his circle. There was no other obvious purpose, for example the prize money, since it is well known on the island that the Monogiou family is more than well-off. According to local market players, George Monogios, on leaving the reality show and returning to Mykonos, began to distance himself from the locals.
He preferred to socialize with Athenians and foreigners, i.e. the summer visitors passing through. It was clear that she wanted to change her profile and social sphere of reference. At the same time, as far as his professional activities were concerned, he devoted himself to trade, setting up at least two clothing stores with brand-name brands, creations by Greek and foreign designers, etc. These are 'Giorgy' in Matogianni Street and 'Alchemist', also in the heart, i.e. the shopping centre of Mykonos. It is also whispered that Tzortzis rented out two more shops bought by his family, and it is worth mentioning that he had a reputation as an exemplary employer, which is why he has kept the same employees since the opening of his shops until today.
As for his personal habits, persons close to him tell "THEMA" that he did not have many passions apart from meticulous care of his body, as he was an exercise fanatic and did exhaustive gymnastics, along with a diet program, etc. Of course, his great weakness was expensive and high-gas cars. The financial resources of the Monogiou family were just what Giorgis needed to satisfy his passion for speed.
The legacy
Giorgis' grandmother, Flora Monogiou, owns a supermarket chain in Mykonos, the turnover of which, according to local financiers, is very high. His father, Michalis Monogyios, has run a car and two-wheeler rental business in the Fabrica area for many years. This office, in its early days, was the main source of income for the family, which was the case until Michael's wife, Eleni Xydaki, received a large inheritance from a relative.
She thus acquired a considerable number of properties in prime areas of the island, with plots of land and buildings, which she occasionally sells off, dramatically increasing her fortune. In fact, it is rumoured that recently George's mother sold a large plot of land, about 10 acres, in the area of Ai Giannis, with Cypriot investors as buyers, who paid 6.5 million euros. Somehow it was easy enough for Giorgis to acquire some exciting dream cars very early in his life. Already as a teenager he owned a Porsche, and then he bought a Lamborghini Aventador, which costs over 600,000 euros.
A few 24 hours ago a car truck arrived in Athens from Germany. Out of the car dealership of Serbian Daniel Baric and his personal friend, from the platform carefully descended, like a real diva, the supercar that Georgis has been coveting lately: the Ferrari 488 Pista, a red land rocket equipped with the most powerful engine in V8 configuration ever built by the legendary Italian brand. With 720 horsepower, this four-wheeled beast is capable of blasting off at full throttle, notching up acceleration from standstill to 100 km/h in just 2.85 seconds. Its top speed exceeds 340 km/h and its price, as a special, limited production version, is around 450,000 euros.
For its acquisition, Giorgis Monogios turned to the right person: the Serbian dealer is renowned for his international and very high level connections. His clientele includes football superstars - mainly from the Bundesliga - such as former Bayern Munich star, French international Frank Ribery. Indeed, for Daniel, Georgis was not just a client, as the two were discussing the possibility of partnering in a supercar import company in Greece, targeting an audience of buyers with very specific requirements and the corresponding wealth for such investments.
The tragic irony
Since her election as a New Democracy MP, that is, since the summer of 2019, the most recognizable face of the Monogiou family is his sister Katerina, for whose entry into Parliament her parents made great efforts, covering without the slightest hesitation all the expenses of a costly election campaign. Katerina is a dietician and a former crowned member of the Peloponnesian Pageant, having won the title of "Miss Beauty" in the 2003 competition.
In a wedding ceremony of fabulous opulence and splendour in Mykonos, and specifically at the Holy Monastery of Panagia Tourliani, in Ano Mera, Katerina Monogyiou married businessman Charis Mariolis. The MP for the Cyclades arrived at the church in a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, while the tail of her wedding dress was held by 9 bridesmaids.
The ceremony was followed by a luxurious reception and a lavish feast, but the wedding did not have a happy ending, as some time ago the couple divorced due to a disagreement of characters. Katerina was travelling to Monaco especially to watch the Formula 1 Grand Prix and even with the monarch of the state, Prince Albert. Last summer, Katerina Monogiu even had a date with Ferrari's No. 1 driver, the young Monegasque Charles Leclerc. With whom she, of course unaware of what fate had in store for her brother and her family, discussed road safety and traffic accidents.
Source: Proto Thema
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