Germany now boasts 256 billionaires — more than ever before. Leading the pack is Lidl founder Dieter Schwarz, who retains his title as the richest German, with an estimated fortune of €46.5 billion, according to the latest Manager Magazin ranking of “The 500 Richest Germans.”
The new list reflects significant wealth shifts over the past twelve months: while some families managed to grow their fortunes, others saw billions vanish due to market losses and corporate setbacks.
Top 10 richest Germans in 2025
- Dieter Schwarz (Lidl, Kaufland) – €46.5 billion (previous year: €43.7 billion)
- Susanne Klatten & Stefan Quandt (BMW) – €36.1 billion (34.4 billion)
- Albrecht & Heister families (Aldi Süd) – €27.7 billion (27 billion)
- Merck family (Merck KGaA) – €24.5 billion (33.8 billion)
- Reimann family (JAB Holding, Coty) – €24 billion (31.3 billion)
- Klaus-Michael Kühne (Kühne+Nagel, Hapag-Lloyd, Lufthansa) – €23.5 billion (29 billion)
- Henkel family (Henkel AG) – €19.5 billion (24.6 billion)
- Andreas von Bechtolsheim (Arista Networks) – €18.2 billion (17.7 billion)
- Hasso Plattner family (SAP) – €17.7 billion (16.9 billion)
- Theo Albrecht Jr. & Babette Albrecht families (Aldi Nord, Trader Joe’s) – €17.6 billion (18.9 billion)
Winners and losers among the rich
While the top three increased their fortunes, others suffered major financial hits.
The Merck family saw their wealth shrink by nearly 30%, largely due to falling share prices of the pharmaceutical giant Merck KGaA.
The Reimann family, owners of JAB Holding and Coty, lost over 20%, with sluggish perfume sales — including Calvin Klein fragrances — cited as a key factor.
Veteran logistics magnate Klaus-Michael Kühne (88) also lost about 20% of his assets after his investment in the now-collapsed Signa Holding of Austrian developer René Benko went up in smoke.
Quiet billionaires rise through defense investments
Not all fortunes faded. The Braunbehrens, Bode and Sehe families, largely unknown to the public, nearly tripled their wealth in just a year — from €2.7 billion to around €8 billion.
Their massive gains stem from their stake in the defense company KNDS, a joint Franco-German manufacturer producing heavy military equipment such as tanks and artillery systems.
Wealth gap widens faster than the economy
Since 2001, the combined wealth of Germany’s 100 richest individuals has nearly tripled, jumping from €263 billion to €758 billion.
During the same period, the nation’s gross domestic product has merely doubled — a sign that the prosperity gap between the ultra-rich and the general population continues to widen.
