Portrait of Ludwig Merckle

Rank #161

Ludwig Merckle

Net worth $17.8B

Pharmaceuticals · Germany

Born
Jan 01, 1965
Age
61
Source
Pharmaceuticals
Residence
Ulm
Citizenship
Germany
Marital status
Married
Children
2
Education

Net worth over time

Biography

  • Ludwig Merckle owns 28% of construction group Heidelberg Materials, which he took over in crisis after the death of his father, Adolf, in 2009.
  • Along with other members of his family, he owns Phoenix Pharma SE, a drug wholesaler that also operates a chain of retail pharmacies.
  • His father died by suicide during a debt crisis that threatened to crush the family fortune until Ludwig orchestrated a turnround.
  • To finance the rescue, he refinanced debt, sold drug maker Ratiopharm and a large stake in Heidelberg, and nearly had to sell Phoenix.
  • He owns the snowcat maker Kaessbohrer and is co-owner of Zollern, which makes a range of products including bearings, gears, winches and motors.
  • Ludwig Merckle was named Family Entrepreneur of the Year in 2017 by PwC's INTES Family Business Academy.
  • A naturalist by hobby, he also owns the forestry company Blauwald.

Financial assets

Exchange Ticker Company Shares Price Currency