Since unification, the entrepreneurial spirit in Germany has increased considerably. However, the country still has a ways to go, as in the mid-2000s, Germany ranked 24th in the world for business activity. Despite the fact that 25-30% of young scientists in the country have a significant chance of creating a successful business, only 5% will, for various reasons.
One of those reasons may be that with one of the highest tax rates in the world, many small business owners find it difficult to stay afloat. There is also a tendency among Germans to open businesses not out of a passionate impulse to manifest their vision, but as a way of earning a living that has no other choice. Furthermore, Germans are known to be cautious people, less inclined to take risks, which may prevent many aspiring entrepreneurs from taking that fateful step to quit their jobs and open their own businesses.
Yet Germany ranked first in the world for the amount of money the government invests in its entrepreneurs, showing that if the business virus ever reaches the nation, it is likely to spread far, far and wide. wide and fast. Of note is the fact that Germany has established several programs targeting women entrepreneurs, including special loans, networks, and a learning center. And according to an article published in the International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, while East Germany may have fewer overall entrepreneurs than its Western counterpart, the region boasts a higher number of women entrepreneurs.
A sector that is growing rapidly is that of franchises. In the last 10 years, it has increased dramatically in terms of its percentage of the Gross National Product. One reason franchising can work so well in Germany is that it appeals to the Germans’ drive for low risk, promising a stable return on investment.
Here are 10 of the most famous businessmen in Germany:
Lars Windhorst
A celebrated businessman, Lars Windhorst has been an entrepreneur since his teens. As one of Germany’s most famous and successful young business leaders, he accompanied Dr. Helmut Kohl, former Chancellor of Germany, on some of his official visits, after which he was recognized at the World Economic Forum in Davos as its Global Leader of Tomorrow. and the youngest entrant he had ever received. After developing his profitable computer business, Windhorst branched out into electronics and equity participation, with the Windhorst Group expanding into different parts of Asia and Europe. Today, despite some recent struggles, Windhorst is making renewed strides in the financial world, with the establishment of the Sapinda Group for investment. There he currently holds the position of managing director of the subsidiary Sapinda Deutschland GmbH.
Charles Albert
One of the richest people not only in Germany but in the world, Karl Albrecht was born in the 1920s in Essen to poor parents, his father a baker’s helper and his mother the owner of a small grocery store. Later, he and his brother Theo took over his mother’s store and transformed it into Aldi Sud, a mega discount supermarket chain. Albrecht increased his own wealth to over $20 billion, before leaving the company and retiring into private life. Little is known about him today, although rumor has it that he lives somewhere in Switzerland, where he enjoys playing golf and growing orchids.
reinhold wurth
Billionaire businessman Reinhold Würth was born in 1935. After inheriting his father’s business at the young age of 19, he turned it into the Adolf Würth Group, a billion-dollar corporation. A member of the German Industry Hall of Fame and recipient of the Ludwig Erhard Medal, the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit, and the Diesel Medal, among various other awards and honours, Würth is known not only for his business prowess, but also for his philanthropy. he works in favor of the arts and society. He is now retired from business, but continues to be an active member of various advisory boards and maintains his activities on behalf of the community.
frank asbeck
SolarWorld’s founder and chairman, Frank Asbeck, is a billionaire entrepreneur whose company has proven to be highly successful for both owners and shareholders. SolarWorld, a rapidly growing company, manufactures and produces solar panels. The company’s success is due in large measure to Asbeck’s aggressive approach and leadership style, as well as his use of management techniques such as employee stock ownership. Seeking to enter Asian markets, including companies in South Korea, China and India, Asbeck also chose to create a social agenda for SolarWorld, founding an ethics council and striving to introduce solar power to parts of Africa that are in dire need of new sources of energy. energy.
Klaus-Michael Kuhne
Klaus-Michael Kühne, born in Hamburg in the 1930s, rose to become the major shareholder and CEO of Kühne & Nagel, the international shipping company founded by his grandfather, August Kühne. Kühne, one of the richest people in the world, is said to be worth nearly $6 billion personally. In 2008, Kühne won the Individual Contribution Award in recognition of his contribution to both the world of transportation and society in general. An example of this is the establishment over 30 years ago of the Kühne Foundation which supports education, research and training in the field of transport, together with its numerous philanthropic activities.
susanne klatten
The richest woman in Germany, Susanne Klatten, was born in Bad Homburg. She later inherited her father’s interest in Altana, a manufacturer of chemical and pharmaceutical products, and helped turn it into one of Germany’s leading companies. Klatten has an MBA in advertising, along with a bachelor’s degree in business finance, and has gained significant business experience at firms including McKinsey and Dresdner Bank. Today, in addition to her work with Altana, she sits as an adviser on BMW’s board of directors, of which she also holds a significant stake.
Hasso Plattner
Hasso Plattner, born in Berlin in 1944, is a German businessman and one of the richest men in the world. Founder of SAP AG, one of the world’s largest software companies, he led the company to thrive in a changing marketplace, always anticipating the flow. He previously served as the company’s chairman of the board, since his retirement he has served as the chairman of the supervisory board. A well-known benefactor, Plattner has numerous honors and awards for his contributions to society, research, and education. These include the founding of the Hasso Plattner Institute for Software Systems Engineering, the Hasso Plattner Foundation for Software Systems Engineering, and the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford University; in addition to providing millions of dollars for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, and sponsoring benefits on behalf of disadvantaged children.
Karlheinz Kipp
Karl-Heinz Kipp, a self-made billionaire, started small in the world of retail, and after 17 years, opened his first department store called Massa. Building it into the largest department store chain in Germany, he sold it some 20 years later, retaining ownership of the real estate. Other Kipp-owned properties can be found in Manhattan, Switzerland, and St. Moritz, in the form of luxury residences, hotels, and resorts. Kipp and his wife, Hannelore, still married after nearly 60 years, reside at Kipp’s Tschuggen Grand Hotel.
Andreas Strungman
The founder of Hexal, a generic pharmaceutical company, Andreas Strüngmann and his identical twin brother, Thomas, built the company into the second largest producer of generic drugs in Germany. While Thomas received a business education, Strüngmann studied medicine, after which he practiced medicine in the South African bush. In 1985, the two decided to join forces to respond to the growing need in the generic drug market. Over the next 20 years they succeeded beyond their wildest dreams and sold the company for $7.5 in 2005, after which Strüngmann became an executive at Sandoz, one of Novartis’ divisions. One of his charitable endeavors includes the establishment of the Ernst Strüngmann Foundation.
Anton Schlecker
A true rags-to-riches story, Anton Schlecker inherited his parents’ butcher shop, then left the world of meat for the world of pharmaceuticals. In 1975 he opened a pharmacy, multiplying it into more than 100 stores in the next two years. Thirty years later, the chain has more than 13,000 stores, spread throughout Europe, with a turnover of 6,500 million euros and a market share of 70%.