Christel DeHaan

Christel DeHaan (née Stark, October 20, 1942 – June 6, 2020) was a German-born American businesswoman and philanthropist who was the owner of Resort Condominiums International and the founder of Christel House International.

Christel DeHaan
Born
Christel Stark

(1942-10-20)October 20, 1942
Nördlingen, Germany
DiedJune 6, 2020(2020-06-06) (aged 77)
Indianapolis, Indiana, US
OccupationFounder, Christel House International
Known forCo-founder and former owner, Resort Condominiums International
Net worthUS$950 million (June 2019)[1]
Spouse(s)
Jon DeHaan
​
(
m. 1973; div. 1987)
Children3

Early life

DeHaan was born in 1942 in Nördlingen, Germany,[2] the daughter of Adolf Stark, a German soldier who died shortly before the end of World War II, and his wife Anna Stark.[3] Her stepfather, Wilhelm Riedel died when she was 16.[3] At the age of 16, she moved to the United Kingdom to become a nanny.[2] Aged 20, she emigrated to the United States, settling in Indiana.[2]

Career

In 1974, DeHaan co-founded the pioneering timeshare company Resort Condominiums International, with her then-husband Jon DeHaan. In 1979, he had a heart attack, and she took over the running of the company. In 1987, they divorced; she was awarded half the company and bought the rest for $67.5 million.[1]

In 1995, she sold RCI for $825 million.[1][2]

Philanthropy

DeHaan founded and donated $220 million to the Christel House International.[1]

Personal life

In 1972, she married Jon DeHaan (b. 1940).[2] She had three children and lived in Indianapolis, Indiana, US.[1] She died on June 6, 2020, at her home.[4]

gollark: Great*!
gollark: It is almost certainly better than the entirely ææaaaaæææææææaaaæææ result I have.
gollark: What's your resistivity like *now*?
gollark: Well, it's almost consistent with it being off by a factor of 100 somehow but why?
gollark: Your area is entirely the wrong magnitude.

References
  1. "Forbes profile: Christel DeHaan". Forbes. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  2. Hawn, Carleen (November 16, 1998). "Yearning for Love". Forbes. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  3. Michael S. Maurer (January 7, 2009). 19 Stars of Indiana: Exceptional Hoosier Women. Indiana University Press. pp. 14–25. ISBN 0-253-00270-2. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  4. "Philanthropist, community leader Christel DeHaan dies at 77". WTTV CBS4Indy. June 6, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
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