“…Gabriel Debbas was once the “prince of Beirut,” a powerful Lebanese banker who married a celebrated Hungarian ballerina. He founded Lebanon’s stock exchange and developed the world-famous Casino du Liban, a favorite haunt of Saudi Arabian royalty. He rubbed shoulders with presidents and prime ministers.”
Later in the article:
Debbas was born Dec. 31, 1909, in Mersin, Turkey, then the Ottoman Empire. The Debbas family was prominent, tracing its lineage to 800 A.D., with landholdings throughout the Middle East.
Read more at Prince and ballerina love story survived war, loss, move
