C hristine Franken is a German heiress to the Knauf Gips KG fortune, one of the world's leading manufacturers of building materials. The company was co-founded by her grandfather, Alfons Knauf, and his brother Karl in 1932. They built the company from a gypsum mine into a global giant known for its drywall and construction systems.

Knauf has remained a privately held, family-owned company for generations, and its ownership is shared among the descendants of the two founding brothers. Christine Franken, as a granddaughter of Alfons, inherited a significant stake in this massive industrial enterprise. Her role, like that of her cousins, is primarily as a shareholder, as the company is run by a professional management team and select family members. Her wealth is tied to the enduring success of this major German family business.