If the 20th century had a real-life Gatsby, it would undoubtedly be Dimitri Jorjadze. Picture this: a Georgian prince, dashing race car driver, hotel magnate, and wine aficionado who defied expectations and social norms at every turn. Dimitri Jorjadze was born in the ancient land of Georgia in 1898, a time of great political upheaval and transformation. As a prince in a world that was rapidly modernizing, Jorjadze could have comfortably stayed nestled amidst the trappings of luxury. Yet, he sped away from convention—literally and figuratively.
Jorjadze's racing career began in the roaring 1920s. He wasn’t just good; he was exceptional, competing at prestigious events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans. While most were content with merely owning a luxury car, Dimitri was busy driving them to their limits. Society will tell you that princes belong in castles, but Jorjadze had other ideas. With the wind at his back and a fierce determination, he balanced the worlds of nobility and nascent modernity with a rare grace.
What do you do when your homeland is caught in political turmoil? You make France your playground. In Paris, Jorjadze didn’t just live; he thrived. With an entrepreneurial spirit, he jumped into hotel management. Imagine a prince running a hotel—it sounds like the start of a bad joke, yet Dimitri made it work. The Georgian Hotel, as it was called, became a hub of international intrigue and high society. But Jorjadze was not content—after all, why settle for one role?
Switching gears should have been his middle name. When World War II erupted, Dimitri, like a character from a wartime novel, didn’t hesitate. He joined the war effort, contributing both as a Soviet partisan and as a French resistance fighter. Let’s see a couch-riding Netflix warrior say the same. Jorjadze was multitalented, committed to redefining what one person could—and should—do in a lifetime.
So, what’s up with a prince owning a winery? To liberals, it might seem a pompous pursuit. But not to Dimitri. He was a connoisseur, a businessman, and perhaps, a little ahead of his time. While running hotels and engaging in speed races might seem enough, Jorjadze seamlessly added winemaker to his impressive repertoire. Drive a Bugatti and own a chateau in Burgundy? Why not? After all, life is too short to sip bad wine.
Love, apparently, is a race too. Marriages? Dimitri had four of them and each was as turbulent and intriguing as his career. His romantic exploits provide another lens through which to view his dynamic life. First, he married Audrey Emery, a fascinating American socialite. The couple symbolized old-world charm meeting new-world ambition. But, as with racing, love didn’t always go as planned. Jorjadze was unapologetically himself.
Should we take a page from his life playbook? Perhaps it’s time to rethink what makes a life well-lived. We live in a world of guidelines and "two-drink minimums." Jorjadze, with his affinity for freedom, proves that sometimes, we must step on the gas pedal. Society, with its rules and boundaries, isn’t for everyone. Some prefer to carve their own paths, unfazed by societal limitations.
The legacy of Dimitri Jorjadze isn't just in the records he set or the posh hotels he ran. It's in the symbolic race against societal expectations, the embodiment of living life at full throttle. The liberal ethos may not appreciate his flamboyance, but that’s precisely what made him so iconic. Living within the confines of others’ expectations is overrated; living like Dimitri—you can't make a better path.