Raymond Orteig

Raymond Orteig was the New York City hotel owner who offered the Orteig Prize for the first non-stop flight between New York and Paris.

Orteig was from France but moved to New York in 1912. He started working as a bus boy and cafe manager but soon managed to acquire two hotels.

He offered the prize in 1919. The prize was won in 1927 by Charles Lindbergh.