Portrait of Friedrich Knapp

Rank #753

Friedrich Knapp

Net worth $4.6B

Fashion retail · Germany

Born
May 06, 1951
Age
75
Source
Fashion retail
Residence
Brunswick
Citizenship
Germany
Marital status
Married
Children
3
Education

Net worth over time

Biography

  • Friedrich Knapp presides over one of Europe's largest fashion companies, New Yorker GmbH, which has more than 1,000 stores in 40 countries.
  • The low-profile billionaire, with Tilmar Hansen and Michael Simson, started the retailer in 1971, with one store in the German town of Flensburg.
  • Today, the chain employs more than 18,000 people and has revenues of around $2 billion.
  • New Yorker is known for targeting a younger audience with fashion ranging from outerwear and knitwear to jeans and athletic apparel.
  • In 2019, Knapp challenged Amazon, claiming that a large proportion of textiles sold by the online giant did not comply with the German textile labeling act.
  • Knapp promotes cultural education among underprivileged children and teens through the New Yorker Foundation.