Friede Springer (née Riewerts) is a German publisher, the billionaire majority shareholder and Vice Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of Axel Springer SE, one of the largest publishing houses in Europe. Born in 1942, her background is marked by humble beginnings: she is the daughter of a gardener and a housekeeper and was initially apprenticed as a hotel clerk.

Her life pivoted in 1965 when, at age 23, she answered a newspaper ad and began working as a nanny in the home of the well-known publisher Axel Springer (founder of the empire). She eventually married him in 1978, becoming his fifth and last wife. After his death in 1985, she dedicated her life to securing the future of her husband's publishing business.

Friede Springer's career is defined by her successful, systematic effort to regain control of the media empire after her husband's death. At the time, Axel Springer had sold controlling stakes to rivals and the open market. Under her fierce guidance, the Springer heirs succeeded in buying back shares and consolidating ownership, ensuring the company remained focused on its long-term editorial mission (publishing iconic titles like Bild, Europe's largest newspaper).

She installed Mathias Döpfner as Chairman in 2002 to lead the modernization and digital pivot. Her immense wealth (estimated at $5.1 billion in 2022) is tied to the long-term, stable profitability of Axel Springer SE. She is personally involved in vast philanthropy, founding the Friede Springer Foundation and the Friede Springer Heart Foundation (supporting cardiovascular research).

Friede Springer's social impact is massive and structural, stemming from Axel Springer's role in shaping German media and public opinion and her political engagement (she is a member of the Christian Democratic Union). Her greatest philanthropic contribution is the Friede Springer Heart Foundation, funding essential research and treatment in cardiovascular disease.

Her career provides a compelling narrative of a woman from humble origins rising to become a powerful media baroness and a structural force in German publishing and philanthropy.

Friede Springer maintains the professional, distinguished style of a German publisher. Her attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits and classic elegance. Her aesthetic reflects her stability and profound institutional authority.

Residing in Germany, her luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from her multi-billion dollar fortune. Her life is dedicated to the stewardship of her husband's media legacy, philanthropy, and high-level corporate governance.