The Viennese entrepreneur and socialite Richard "Mörtel" Lugner is accompanied to the Opera Ball by US actress, climate activist and fitness icon Jane Fonda. "She's a great woman and has accomplished a lot in her life," said the 90-year-old on Thursday of the 85-year-old two-time Oscar winner.

In addition to attending the opera ball on February 16 and an autograph session in his shopping center, the Hollywood legend may also see a cultural highlight. "We don't know exactly what she wants yet, but she's been to Vienna before and is interested in art," said Lugner.

Since 1992, the entrepreneur has often paid top-class celebrities to accompany him to the opera ball in a media-effective manner. The top social event in Austria with more than 5000 guests in festive evening wear had been canceled in the past two years due to the corona pandemic. In 2020, the Italian actress Ornella Muti accompanied him. In the case of Fonda, money is likely to play a rather minor role as a motivation. She is considered a multiple millionaire. "She has more money than me," said Lugner.

It remains to be seen whether the two will harmonize at the opera ball and even dance together. His English and his dance skills are now very rusty, said Lugner. After all, the 90-year-old, who still goes to the office almost every day, is very interested in fitness. However, he relies more on medicine and nutrition. Fonda has a different approach: "She does aerobics every day." He has had a fitness center in his shopping center for 32 years, but has never visited it, said Lugner.