Turkey's richest man, with a flair for business and philanthropy. Sakip Sabanci whose personal fortune estimated in billions ran the conglomerate in Turkey with interest in tourism, textile, food, cars, tobacco, chemicals and banking. He ranks among the world's largest family-owned businesses. Sabanci took on a range of cultural, philanthropic and educational activities. Vaksa, his charitable foundation, runs more than 100 of health, educational and cultural centres across Turkey. He established Sabanci University in Istanbul, which quickly became one of Turkey's strongest academic institutions. He converted family's elegant villa and garden at Bebek, on the Bosphorus, into a museum for fine arts and calligraphy, having international reputation. Sakip Aga has published 14 books, made frequent television appearances, and sometimes even serialised his travels in newspapers. Sakip Sabanci, a humorous, folksy figure, who loved the media limelight and rejoiced in being known as 'Sakip Aga' was born in the village of Akcakaya, in Kayseri, in central Anatolia. He was the son of a cotton trader. Sakip Sabanci was given the unusual honour of a state funeral.