# Skorpios
**Skorpios** (Σκορπιός) is a small private island in the [Ionian Sea](https://www.edgepedia.org/ionian-sea), lying just east of Lefkada off the west coast of Greece, best known as the private retreat of the shipping magnate [Aristotle Onassis](https://www.edgepedia.org/aristotle-onassis) and the site of his 1968 wedding to Jacqueline Kennedy.[1](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/16/aristotle-onassis-heir-island-oligarch) • [2](https://www.istion.com/assets/bases/kefalonia/IS_BB_7D_Ionian_Kefalonia_Base.pdf) It has been owned by the family of the Russian billionaire [Dmitry Rybolovlev](https://www.edgepedia.org/dmitry-rybolovlev) since 2013 and is being converted into an exclusive resort.[1](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/16/aristotle-onassis-heir-island-oligarch) • [3](https://www.naftemporiki.gr/english/52124/next-step-taken-to-turn-aristotle-onassis-private-isle-skorpios-into-exclusive-resort/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | East of the Ionian island of Lefkada, in front of the village of Nidri[2](https://www.istion.com/assets/bases/kefalonia/IS_BB_7D_Ionian_Kefalonia_Base.pdf) |
| Onassis purchase | Bought by Aristotle Onassis in 1962 for 3.5 million drachmas, the equivalent of $10,000[1](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/16/aristotle-onassis-heir-island-oligarch) |
| Famous events | Wedding of Onassis and Jackie Kennedy in 1968; visits by the opera singer Maria Callas[1](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/16/aristotle-onassis-heir-island-oligarch) |
| 2013 sale | Sold by Athina Onassis to Ekaterina Rybolovleva for €117 million, together with the adjacent islet of Sparti[1](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/16/aristotle-onassis-heir-island-oligarch) |
| Resort project | Investment billed at €165 million; developers announced new and refurbished lodgings ready by 2024[3](https://www.naftemporiki.gr/english/52124/next-step-taken-to-turn-aristotle-onassis-private-isle-skorpios-into-exclusive-resort/) |
| Burials | Christina Onassis, Aristotle Onassis, and his son Alexandros are buried on the island[1](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/16/aristotle-onassis-heir-island-oligarch) |
## The Onassis era
Onassis bought the island in 1963 and developed it into a private refuge and family compound.[1](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/16/aristotle-onassis-heir-island-oligarch) • [4](https://www.navigator-consulting.com/greek-island-skorpios-bought-for-ov) • [10](https://www.townsandcountrymag.com/leisure/travel-guide/a35167020/aristotle-onassis-skorpios-island-luxury-resort/) He had hundreds of trees and plants sent over to the island, which within a short space of time went from bare rock to a lush getaway, and he also imported sand to build himself a private beach.[1](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/16/aristotle-onassis-heir-island-oligarch) The island became a stage for the celebrity culture of the 1960s: Onassis entertained his lover [Maria Callas](https://www.edgepedia.org/maria-callas) there, and it was the setting for his marriage to Jackie Kennedy in 1968.[1](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/16/aristotle-onassis-heir-island-oligarch)
The island also became the family's burial ground. [Christina Onassis](https://www.edgepedia.org/christina-onassis), who died of a drugs overdose, is buried there along with her grandfather [Aristotle](https://www.edgepedia.org/aristotle) and her uncle Alexandros, who died in a plane crash.[1](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/16/aristotle-onassis-heir-island-oligarch)
## The 2013 sale
Soaring taxes and maintenance costs, largely a result of the Greek economic crisis, prompted [Athina Onassis](https://www.edgepedia.org/athina-onassis), the sole surviving inheritor of the shipping fortune, to sell the island.[1](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/16/aristotle-onassis-heir-island-oligarch) She is believed to have paid around €35 million in inheritance taxes and maintenance costs since receiving the isle.[1](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/16/aristotle-onassis-heir-island-oligarch)
The buyer was [Ekaterina Rybolovleva](https://www.edgepedia.org/ekaterina-rybolovleva), daughter of Dmitry Rybolovlev, the owner of the AS Monaco football club, who paid €117 million for Skorpios and the adjacent islet of Sparti. Rybolovleva described the purchase as a long-term financial investment.[1](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/16/aristotle-onassis-heir-island-oligarch) Earlier suitors had included [Bill Gates](https://www.edgepedia.org/bill-gates) and Madonna, and in 2013 the emir of Qatar, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, had wanted to buy the island but desisted when Athina Onassis set a price of €200 million.[1](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/16/aristotle-onassis-heir-island-oligarch) • [5](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/04/qatar-emir-buys-six-greek-islands)
## Resort development
The Rybolovlev family's project to create an exclusive, upscale resort on the island advanced with the publication of a joint ministerial decision in Greece's government gazette. The investment was billed as totaling €165 million, and the announced timetable called for new and refurbished lodgings to be ready by 2024, allowing the family to lease the property to high-end holidaymakers or for events.[3](https://www.naftemporiki.gr/english/52124/next-step-taken-to-turn-aristotle-onassis-private-isle-skorpios-into-exclusive-resort/) A 2024 trend report stated that Skorpios would reopen in 2024 after three years of renovation and an estimated $200 million transformation into a lavish private resort.[6](https://onbrands.hu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/The-Future-100-2024.pdf)
The transition to tourism operation has been gradual. According to a Greek real-estate report, despite progress on the works, the operating company's financial results for 2024 remained loss-making, as stated in its financial management report for 2025.[7](https://irealestate.gr/article/skorpios-se-troxia-stadiakis-touristikis-leitourgias)
## Namesakes
The island's fame has spread to unrelated ventures that borrow its name. Scorpios, a beach club and day-ritual venue opened in 2015 on Paraga Beach in Mykonos, has expanded to a Bodrum peninsula resort that opened in the summer of 2024.[8](https://legalclarity.org/who-owns-scorpios-mykonos-from-founders-to-soho-house/) Separately, the Chilean cruise line Skorpios operates Patagonian fjord routes with ships such as the M/V Skorpios III.[9](https://www.skorpios.cl/wp-content/uploads/2025/tarifas/Tarifas-NOMADES-03OCT25-USD-EN.pdf)
## References
1. [Aristotle Onassis heir sells private island to Russian oligarch's daughter, The Guardian (16 April 2013)](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/16/aristotle-onassis-heir-island-oligarch)
2. [Ionian sailing base guide, Istion Yachting](https://www.istion.com/assets/bases/kefalonia/IS_BB_7D_Ionian_Kefalonia_Base.pdf)
3. [Next step taken to turn Aristotle Onassis' private isle, Skorpios, into exclusive resort, Kathimerini English Edition / Naftemporiki](https://www.naftemporiki.gr/english/52124/next-step-taken-to-turn-aristotle-onassis-private-isle-skorpios-into-exclusive-resort/)
4. [Greek Island Skorpios bought for over $100 million, Navigator Consulting](https://www.navigator-consulting.com/greek-island-skorpios-bought-for-ov)
5. [Qatari emir buys six Greek islands for a song, The Guardian (4 March 2013)](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/04/qatar-emir-buys-six-greek-islands)
6. [The Future 100 2024, onbrands](https://onbrands.hu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/The-Future-100-2024.pdf)
7. [Σκορπιός: Σε τροχιά σταδιακής τουριστικής λειτουργίας, iRealEstate](https://irealestate.gr/article/skorpios-se-troxia-stadiakis-touristikis-leitourgias)
8. [Who Owns Scorpios Mykonos? From Founders to Soho House, LegalClarity](https://legalclarity.org/who-owns-scorpios-mykonos-from-founders-to-soho-house/)
9. [Nomads of Patagonia route tariffs, Skorpios cruises](https://www.skorpios.cl/wp-content/uploads/2025/tarifas/Tarifas-NOMADES-03OCT25-USD-EN.pdf)
10. [Aristotle Onassis's Private Island Will Become a Luxury Resort](https://www.townsandcountrymag.com/leisure/travel-guide/a35167020/aristotle-onassis-skorpios-island-luxury-resort/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Places and geography › Landforms and terrestrial features › Islands and dry-land coastal features › Islands and island geography of Europe*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license