The Top 10 Richest Men In Germany According To Forbes (2025)

When we talk about economic powerhouses in Europe, Germany always pops up—big time. The country isn’t just about efficient engineering, high-speed trains, or Oktoberfest. It’s also home to some of the world’s most powerful billionaires—men who have built empires from scratch or expanded family fortunes into modern global businesses.

As a Nigerian blogger passionate about wealth creation, commerce, and global economics, I’m always excited to learn how people in other parts of the world are building wealth—especially the type that gets you a seat at the global table. So in this post, let’s break down the top 10 richest men in Germany in 2025, as ranked by Forbes. We’ll explore their industries, the origins of their wealth, and the lessons you and I can learn from their journey.

Let’s go there.

1. Dieter Schwarz – The Silent Retail King

Net Worth: $48.8 billion
Industry: Retail (Lidl and Kaufland)

Now this man right here, Dieter Schwarz, is the German version of what we might call a "quiet billionaire." No social media stunting. No flashy interviews. Just pure focus. Dieter inherited his father’s small grocery chain and transformed it into a global discount supermarket empire—Lidl and Kaufland.

The Schwarz Group now competes aggressively with brands like Aldi and Walmart globally. Lidl stores are found in almost every European country and even in the US.

Takeaway for Nigerians: The supermarket and retail chain industry in Nigeria is growing—just look at Spar, Shoprite, and Ebeano. If Schwarz could build a global business from grocery retail, why can’t our entrepreneurs think beyond a single outlet or local market?

2. Klaus-Michael Kühne – The Logistics Tycoon

Net Worth: $38.6 billion
Industry: Transportation & Logistics (Kühne + Nagel)

Klaus-Michael Kühne is the definition of a man who stuck to his niche and conquered it. His company, Kühne + Nagel, is one of the biggest players in freight forwarding and logistics globally. Think of it like the “Dangote” of logistics in Europe.

He also has huge stakes in shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd and Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Germany’s largest airline. In simple terms, if goods are moving in and out of Europe, Klaus probably has a cut.

Lesson for us: Logistics is the unsung backbone of commerce in Nigeria—especially with e-commerce rising. This guy’s playbook is clear: own the chain, from shipping to delivery, and you control the flow of wealth.

3. Reinhold Würth & Family – Screwing Their Way to the Top (Literally)

Net Worth: $31.7 billion
Industry: Fasteners, Industrial Supplies (Würth Group)

If you've ever wondered if there’s money in selling screws, bolts, and tools—meet Reinhold Würth. He took over his father’s small wholesale screw business at 19 and grew it into The Würth Group, now one of the biggest suppliers of industrial tools and fasteners worldwide.

Their products are used by auto mechanics, builders, factories—you name it.

Our Angle: Sometimes, it's not about launching a sexy, flashy business. It’s about seeing value in everyday needs. In Nigeria, we need more people like this in manufacturing and distribution of building materials. Na construction dey rush now o.

4. Theo Albrecht Jr. & Family – The Aldi Empire Continues

Net Worth: $20.5 billion
Industry: Retail (Aldi Nord, Trader Joe’s)

If you’ve ever walked into Trader Joe’s in the US or Aldi in Europe, you’ve tasted the legacy of Theo Albrecht Jr. His father co-founded Aldi, one of Europe’s largest discount supermarket chains. When his father passed, Theo Jr. inherited Aldi Nord, which owns Trader Joe’s in the US.

The Albrecht family built their wealth on simplicity, efficiency, and—most importantly—affordability.

What Nigerians Can Learn: This family proves that when you prioritize value-for-money, people will patronize you across generations. That’s a lesson for anyone trying to build a sustainable retail business in Nigeria.

5. Stefan Quandt – The BMW Brain

Net Worth: $19.3 billion
Industry: Automotive (BMW)

The Quandt family is royalty in the German automobile industry. Stefan Quandt owns a large stake in BMW, one of the most successful luxury car brands in the world. His mother was Johanna Quandt, a legendary name in business circles.

Stefan also has investments in energy, logistics, and tech, but it’s the BMW name that holds the real power.

Nigerian Takeaway: The automobile sector is ripe for disruption in Nigeria. Imagine someone building a car brand or EV (electric vehicle) ecosystem here? Stefan’s story shows that with focus and innovation, you can build generational wealth in automotive.

6. Susanne Klatten – The Billionaire Sister

Net Worth: $18.9 billion
Industry: Automotive, Pharma (BMW, Altana)

Susanne is Stefan Quandt’s sister and also a major shareholder in BMW. But her story doesn’t stop there. She inherited Altana, a chemical/pharma company that she helped transform into one of the best in Europe.

She’s smart, strategic, and heavily invested in sustainability and innovation.

What To Learn: Diversification is the name of the game. You can be in cars today and chemicals tomorrow. Susanne reminds us that the future belongs to those who invest in science and tech.

7. Andreas Strüngmann & Thomas Strüngmann – The Healthcare Twins

Net Worth: $9.5 billion (each)
Industry: Pharmaceuticals (BioNTech, Hexal)

These twin brothers made their big break in pharma. They sold Hexal, a generic drug company, and then went all in on BioNTech—the company that helped create the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

The pandemic might be over, but the wealth they built? Still booming.

Nigerian Angle: Our health sector is heavily dependent on imports. Entrepreneurs who can tap into local drug production, vaccine innovation, or generic medicine manufacturing will win big—both financially and socially.

8. Alexander Otto – Real Estate Royalty

Net Worth: $8.9 billion
Industry: Real Estate (ECE Group)

Alexander Otto is the name behind ECE Group, which manages and owns countless shopping malls, commercial properties, and logistics hubs across Germany and Europe.

In Nigeria, we’ve seen the rise of mega malls like Ikeja City Mall, but Alexander has been doing that on a global scale for decades.

Business Wisdom: Real estate remains one of the strongest wealth generators—anywhere in the world. But Otto didn’t just build plazas—he built real estate ecosystems. That’s a mindset we need more of in Naija.

Final Thoughts

From retail and logistics to automobiles and healthcare, Germany’s richest men have built their fortunes by sticking to what they know, innovating constantly, and thinking long-term. And while many of them inherited wealth, they didn't waste it—they grew it.

As Nigerians, we can learn plenty:

• Specialize and scale – You can start small but dream global.

• Diversify smartly – Don’t be afraid to expand your empire once the foundation is strong.

• Focus on essentials – From groceries to healthcare, real wealth often comes from what people can’t live without.

Whether you're hustling in Lagos traffic, running a tech startup in Yaba, or managing a farm in Benue, remember: big money isn’t magic. It’s strategy, patience, and long-term thinking. The billionaires in Germany didn’t get there overnight—and neither will you. But trust me, if they can do it, you too can join the global table.