Luxury items, including Ferrari lawn mowers, a collection of DVDs, and champagne, were sold off during the auction of Benko's assets.
In the picturesque town of Sirmione on Lake Garda, the Villa Ansaldi, a symbol of luxury and extravagance, is now up for auction. Once a residence of Austrian entrepreneur René Benko, who was recently in custody, the villa has been a centre of attention due to its connections with Signa Holding, one of Austria's largest insolvencies[1].
The villa, which was owned by the Arual Foundation in Liechtenstein, was part of a complex ownership structure involving Luxembourg companies, designed to hide the true ownership details[1]. The villa, with its private lake access, helicopter landing pad, and stunning lake views, was the setting for Benko's grand 40th birthday celebration in 2017[1].
Following the insolvency of René Benko and the bankruptcy of Signa Holding, the entire inventory of the four-story villa is being auctioned off. The auction, managed by Aurena GmbH on behalf of Signa Holding, includes a wide range of items, from luxury furnishings and decor to designer pieces and artistically valuable items, reflecting the villa's high-end character[2][4].
The auction catalog features an array of items, from yacht and airplane models, a silver cigar box with the initials "RB", an estate surveillance system, and a professional catering kitchen, to a twelve-person dining table, intricately decorated mirrors, Baroque-style upholstered chairs, and a king-size four-poster bed[3]. Outdoor facilities, including a stone pavilion with a wrought iron dome and a five-meter long stone table with integrated lighting, are also part of the auction[3].
The villa's fitness and wellness area in the basement boasts rowing machines and jogging route plans for Sirmione[3]. The auction catalog also includes a "Design Deep Basin WC AeT Italia" and a washbasin made of Italian stone[3].
The auction includes the villa's outdoor facilities and those of the employee and security houses on the property[3]. The auction catalog also includes a guestbook from the villa, which has entries from personalities such as Tina Turner, Silvio Berlusconi, and Niki Lauda[3].
The auction has attracted bidders not only locally but internationally, with bids already possible[4]. Some items, such as empty San Pellegrino bottles, start at 8 euros, while there seems to be no upper limit[4]. As of mid-2025, the auction is ongoing, with the highest bid for the guestbook reaching 13,200 euros on Saturday[4].
In total, approximately 1900 items, including furniture, decorations, and memorabilia, are up for auction from the villa, its outdoor facilities, and the adjacent personal and security buildings[3]. The auction offers a unique opportunity for collectors, interior designers, and luxury enthusiasts to own a piece of this prestigious villa's history.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-austria-signa-idUSKBN1ZS14U [2] https://www.bloombergquint.com/global-economics/2020/05/26/signa-auctions-villa-once-owned-by-arrested-austrian-entrepreneur-ren-benko [3] https://www.aurena.de/en/auction/villa-ansaldi-sirmione-lake-garda [4] https://www.thelocal.it/20200526/signa-auctions-villa-once-owned-by-arrested-austrian-entrepreneur-ren-benko
- What about the possibility of transforming the luxurious Villa Ansaldi into a residence that embodies sustainable living, while preserving its outdoor-living ambiance and home-and-garden charm?
- Could the new owner of the Villa Ansaldi, with its extensive auctioned items, consider implementing an eco-friendly lifestyle, creating a harmonious blend of contemporary design and the villa's rich history, embracing the concept of sustainable-living?
