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Stephan Schmidheiny

Stephan Schmidheiny

S. Schmidheiny
22.11% | + $468.00M
$2.59 B ₹ 23,511 Cr
Real Time Net Worth #1597 Ranking as of 21 Feb 2026 By Forbes

More on Stephan Schmidheiny

Gender

Male

Age

78Y

Country

Switzerland

Born On

October, 1947

Deceased

No

Relationship Status

Divorced

Children

2

Education

Unknown

Designation Info :

Self-Made

No

Entrepreneur Type

Inherited (With Self-Made Component In Investments)

Primary Organization

Grupo Nueva

Titles

Founder

Sources of Wealth

Grupo Nueva

Industry

Investments, Construction Materials, Philanthropy

About Stephan Schmidheiny


S tephan Schmidheiny is a Swiss billionaire industrialist and a prominent advocate for sustainable development. He represents the fourth generation of one of Switzerland's most important industrial dynasties. He and his brother Thomas inherited the family's empire, which was built on the Eternit construction materials business. Stephan took control of the Eternit group and later sold his stake, using the proceeds to create a massive and diversified portfolio of investments in Latin America through his private firm, Grupo Nueva.

In his later career, Schmidheiny has become a leading global voice for corporate social responsibility and sustainable business practices. However, his legacy is deeply controversial. He has been embroiled in a decades-long legal battle in Italy, where he was convicted of causing the deaths of thousands of people from asbestos-related illnesses linked to his family's Eternit factories. Despite his philanthropic work in sustainability, this conviction has cast a long shadow over his career and reputation.

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Quick Reads


  • Heir to the Eternit construction materials fortune.
  • A prominent global advocate for business sustainability.
  • Built a large investment portfolio in Latin America.
  • Has been convicted in Italy in a major case related to thousands of asbestos deaths.
  • His brother, Thomas Schmidheiny, is also a billionaire.

Early Life and Background


Stephan Schmidheiny is a Swiss businessman, the self-made billionaire Former Owner of Eternit Group and Founder of Groupo Nueva (investments). His wealth is generational, tied to the Schmidheiny family industrial empire (cement, asbestos) and his own successful diversification into sustainable and regenerative ventures.

Schmidheiny holds a Ph.D. in Law from the University of Zurich. His philosophical approach centers on entrepreneurial audacity, ethical investment, and long-term commitment to sustainable development (pioneering the Eco-Efficiency business model). His career is marked by the controversy surrounding the use of asbestos by the family's former company, Eternit.

  • Groupo Nueva (Founder & Executive): The core private asset, a major investment holding focused on sustainable and regenerative businesses (forestry, energy, technology).
  • Eternit Group (Former Owner): The foundational source of his wealth, the major construction materials conglomerate he successfully divested from in the late 1980s.
  • Sustainability Pioneer: He successfully pivoted his focus to sustainable business practices (a major structural shift in his career).
  • Controversy/Crisis: His family's former involvement in asbestos manufacturing led to international legal battles and significant public scrutiny.

Career Journey of Stephan Schmidheiny


Dr. Stephan Schmidheiny's strategic genius was his commitment to ethical and sustainable business. He inherited a portion of the family's assets (including the controversial Eternit asbestos operations) and made the structural decision to divest from the traditional industrial business in the late 1980s. He founded Groupo Nueva, focusing on long-term, sustainable investments in Central and South America. His structural contribution is immense: pioneering the sustainable business model (Eco-Efficiency) and advancing environmental responsibility in the global industrial sector.

His wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term, stable profitability of his diversified sustainable investment portfolio.

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Stephan Schmidheiny's Timeline


1980s (Late):

Divests from the family's asbestos-related industrial assets (Pivotal Transition).

1990s:

Founds Groupo Nueva, focusing on sustainable investments (Founding/Strategic Pivot).

1992:

Serves as Principal Advisor for Business and Industry to the Secretary-General of the UN (Global Apex).

Ongoing:

Continues as Founder and Executive of Groupo Nueva, guiding his private interests (Executive Oversight).

Major Business Ventures and Investments


Stephan Schmidheiny's wealth is concentrated in the capital generated from the Eternit divestment and his private investment holding, Groupo Nueva.

  • Groupo Nueva (Founder & Executive): The core private asset, a major investment holding focused on sustainable and regenerative businesses (forestry, energy, technology).
  • Eternit Group (Former Owner): The foundational source of his wealth, the major construction materials conglomerate he successfully divested from in the late 1980s.
  • Academic Background: He holds a Ph.D. in Law from the University of Zurich.
  • Sustainability Pioneer: He successfully pivoted his focus to sustainable business practices.

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Philanthropy and Social Impact


Stephan Schmidheiny's social impact is defined by his commitment to sustainable development and social entrepreneurship in Latin America. His foundations (like Viva Trust) support initiatives in education, health, and microfinance, promoting systemic change. His work actively addressed the ethical and health controversies associated with the family's former industrial activities.

His personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives.

Fashion, Style, and Lifestyle


Stephan Schmidheiny maintains the professional, composed style of a corporate executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects serious authority and intellectual depth, typical of a leader in the global financial sector.

Residing in Zurich, Switzerland, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to investment strategy, sustainable development, and corporate governance.

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Quotes and Philosophy


No publicly available quotes.

Fun Facts & Trivia


  • He is the Founder of Groupo Nueva (sustainable investment firm).
  • He holds a Ph.D. in Law from the University of Zurich.
  • His family's former company, Eternit, was central to the global asbestos controversy.
  • He successfully divested from the asbestos business in the 1980s to focus on sustainable ventures.
  • He served as the Principal Advisor for Business and Industry to the UN.
  • His philosophy emphasizes Eco-Efficiency and ethical business practices.

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Sources & References


This profile is compiled from verified biographical and financial records:

  • Wealth Data: Real-time tracking and historical data from Forbes Billionaires and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
  • Biographical Records: Educational and career history sourced from Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and official university alumni directories.
  • Regulatory Filings: Shareholder and executive disclosures from stock exchange databases, including HKEX, SSE, SZSE, and SEC EDGAR.
  • Corporate History: Primary data from annual company reports, founding charters, and verified press announcements.

All information is cross-referenced with public sources for accuracy; some narrative sections are AI-assisted summaries.

If you find any inaccuracies, please report them to admin@redcarpetlife.in

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