Amschel Rothschild, the man many believed would be the prestigious Rothschild Bank's next leader, hanged himself in a Paris luxury hotel, a newspaper reported Thursday.

Rothschild's body was found by a cleaning lady Monday in his room at the Hotel Bristol, not far from the presidential Elysee Palace, the Paris daily Le Parisien said. Rothschild, 41, was widely expected to take over the British merchant bank N.M. Rothschild and Sons.

Police officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the paper the banker hanged himself. Both the bank and the Rothschild family refused to comment on the death.

Rothschild was appointed chief executive of Rothschild Asset Management in 1990, later becoming its chairman. The moves led to speculation that he was being prepared to succeed his cousin Sir Evelyn Rothschild as chairman of the family bank.

The Rothschild family gained prominence by financing such projects as the construction of European railroads and the British military campaign that led to the final defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815.

Rothschild is survived by his wife, Anita Guinness, a son, and two daughters.

Funeral arrangements were not announced but were expected to be private.