Germany's rich list topped by discount supermarket owners

Oct 6, 2009, 15:08 GMT

Dusseldorf - Karl and Theo Albrecht, founders and owners of German discount supermarket chain Aldi, remained Germany's two wealthiest people with a combined fortune of 34.1 billion euros (50 billion dollars), Manager Magazine reported on Tuesday.

The economic crisis left the 89- and 87-year-old brothers virtually unscathed, as cash-strapped customers shopped for bargains. Earlier in the year, they were listed amongst the world's ten richest people according Forbes magazine.

Germany's third richest person was Dieter Schwarz, owner of rival discounter Lidl, reported to hold 10 billion euros.

Susanne Klatten, 42, a large-scale shareholder in the pharmaceutical company Altana and carmaker BMW, was reportedly the richest woman with a fortune worth 7 billion euros, placing her 6th overall.

Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler, whose car parts manufacturing company was almost bankrupted by its takeover of rival Continental, plummeted from 15th to 260th position.

Manager Magazine estimated the Schaeffler family fortune at around 400 million euros, less than a tenth of their estimated 4.85 billion euros last year.

The top 50 included the Porsche family at 13th place with 4.5 billion euros and the Bosch family who came 30th, with holdings of 3 billion euros.

The Riegel family, owners of Haribo sweets and confectionery, reached 37th position with 2.65 billion euros.

The list of richest families was topped by the Brenninkmeijer Family, owners of C&A clothing chain. The family of German origin reportedly has a combined fortune of 22.5 billion euros.

Michael Schumacher, who made his name by racing - as opposed to manufacturing - cars, reached 190th position with an estimated 500 million euros.