[1] Following the death of his father on 14 December 1941, Alafouzos, to support his family, took a job at a timber company in Malakasa, north of Athens.
He left the job in the spring of 1943 to prepare for the entrance exams for the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), which he passed with top marks.
Alafouzos graduated with a degree in civil engineering in 1949, specializing in hydraulic technology in road building and the construction of railroads, ports and industries.
[1] Following the completion of his mandatory military service between 1949 and 1951, Alafouzos was employed as the supervising engineer of construction works in the port of Piraeus.
[1] As a result, in that same year he founded "Aristidis Alafouzos" (which was later renamed "ATE ERGON") which subsequently played an important role in the postwar reconstruction of Greece.
The company's notable projects were the Hotel Mont Parnes (later renamed Regency Casino Mont Parnes) on Mount Parnitha overlooking the north western suburbs of Athens and the large Asteras Vouliagmenis luxury hotel on the southern coast of Athens, both of these projects enjoying the patronage of prime minister Constantine Karamanlis.
[1] This company ceased to operate in the late 1960s, when Alafouzos stopped working as a civil engineer, residing overseas while the country was ruled by the Greek junta between 1967 and 1974.
[2] In 1974, Alafouzos ordered ships of 140,000 dwt capacity of carrying both liquid and dry cargo from Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries, in a joint venture with K-Line.
[2] During Alafouzos’ shipping career he ordered more than 100 vessels (always with high specifications) from British, German, Japanese, Chinese and Korean shipyards.
[7] In later years SKAI opposed the government of Konstantinos Mitsotakis, with Alafouzos stating in an interview in October 1993 with the journalist Georgia Kontrarou that their relationship had broken down because the latter was constantly "asking for money" from 1989 elections onwards.
[10] Alafouzos's media companies had controversial relations with the Tsipras led government, mostly centred on the Skai owned radio and TV stations.
"[13] He was also honored with the "Order of the Rising Sun" by the Emperor of Japan and with the honorary title of "Friendship Ambassador" by the Chinese government.