Germany now boasts a record 256 billionaires, the highest number since records began according to Manager Magazin. The total wealth of the 100 richest Germans has nearly tripled since 2001, reaching €758 billion, while the combined asset value of the 500 richest stands at €1.16 trillion.
More than half of those on the list now possess fortunes exceeding €1 billion.
The list also highlights the enduring power of family wealth in Germany. Many of the country’s richest families – including Würth, Liebherr, Miele, Siemens, Haniel, Oetker, Otto, and Kühne – have maintained their fortunes for decades.
Beyond the top 10, the Braunbehrens, Bode and Sehe families, active in the defence sector, nearly tripled their wealth in the past year, while the founders of BioNTech, Ugur Sahin and Özlem Türeci, remain among the top 100, with assets rising to €4 billion.
While the overall wealth of Germany’s richest has grown steadily over the past two decades, the past year saw comparatively modest gains, with the top 500’s wealth rising by just 2.9 percent. Some fortunes even declined, reflecting volatility in sectors such as pharmaceuticals and logistics.
The 10 Richest People in Germany
1. Dieter Schwarz – Schwarz Group (Lidl, Kaufland)
Dieter Schwarz, founder of the Schwarz Group, which includes the supermarket giants Lidl and Kaufland, is Germany’s richest resident.
His fortune is estimated at €46.5 billion, up from €43.7 billion last year. Schwarz, who celebrated his 86th birthday in September, is known for his extreme privacy – there are almost no public photographs of him.
READ ALSO: 7 ways to talk about money like a German
He retired from company management in 1999 and ranks 45th among the world’s richest people, with assets valued at $36.9 billion.
2. Susanne Klatten and Stefan Quandt – BMW
The siblings Susanne Klatten and Stefan Quandt are major shareholders in BMW and together hold a fortune of €36.1 billion, an increase of €1.7 billion on the previous year.
Susanne Klatten, the richest woman in Germany, owns around 20 percent of BMW and is also involved in the specialty chemicals group Altana AG.
Stefan Quandt, deputy chairman of BMW’s supervisory board, is estimated to be worth $24.8 billion. Their wealth is rooted in the legacy of their father, Herbert Quandt, who played a pivotal role in BMW’s rise.
3. Albrecht & Heister Families – Aldi Süd
The Albrecht and Heister families, owners of the Aldi Süd supermarket chain, are in third place with a combined fortune of €27.7 billion. Their wealth grew by €700 million over the past year.
The family’s business empire includes trademark rights in Great Britain, Australia, and the USA.
4. Merck Family – Merck KGaA
The Merck family, owners of the pharmaceutical and chemical company Merck KGaA, have an estimated fortune of €24.5 billion. However, they suffered the largest loss among Germany’s richest in 2025, with their wealth shrinking by €9.3 billion due to a significant drop in Merck KGaA’s share value.
READ ALSO: How much the CEOs of Germany’s biggest companies really earn
5. Reimann Family – JAB Holding (Coty, Keurig Dr Pepper)
The Reimann family controls JAB Holding, which owns brands such as Coty and Keurig Dr Pepper. Their fortune stands at €24 billion, down from €31.3 billion the previous year, mainly due to challenges at Coty, their perfume and cosmetics subsidiary which holds licenses for brands including Gucci, Burberry, Hugo Boss, and Calvin Klein.
6. Klaus-Michael Kühne – Kühne+Nagel, Hapag-Lloyd, Lufthansa, Flix
Klaus-Michael Kühne, whose logistics group Kühne+Nagel operates in more than 100 countries, has a fortune of €23.5 billion. His wealth declined by €5.5 billion this year, partly due to losses in logistics and investments in companies such as Hapag-Lloyd and Brenntag. Kühne also invested in Signa Holding, which went bankrupt. He is known as a sports patron and is a supporter of the Hamburger SV football club.
7. Henkel Family – Henkel
The Henkel family, behind the global consumer goods company Henkel, are worth €19.5 billion, a decrease of €5.1 billion from last year. Their business includes household brands and industrial products.
8. Andreas von Bechtolsheim – Arista Networks, Sun Microsystems
Andreas von Bechtolsheim is a pioneer in information technology, co-founder of Sun Microsystems, and founder of Arista Networks. One of the first investors in Google, his fortune is estimated at €18.2 billion, up from €17.7 billion last year.
9. Hasso Plattner & Family – SAP
Hasso Plattner, co-founder of SAP, is a leading figure in enterprise software. He was chairman of SAP’s supervisory board until 2024 and is the founder of the Hasso Plattner Institute for Software Systems Engineering. His fortune is estimated at €17.7 billion.
READ ALSO: 'Bürgergeld is history' - How Germany's unemployment benefit is being reformed
10. Friedhelm Loh – Friedhelm Loh Group
Friedhelm Loh, owner and CEO of the Friedhelm Loh Group, ranks tenth with a fortune of $13.9 billion. His group, founded in 1961, provides software, products, and services for industries such as switchgear manufacturing and utilities. Rittal, one of his largest companies, manufactures switch cabinets and power distribution systems.
Comments