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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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.
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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Divests from the family's asbestos-related industrial assets (Pivotal Transition).
Founds Groupo Nueva, focusing on sustainable investments (Founding/Strategic Pivot).
Serves as Principal Advisor for Business and Industry to the Secretary-General of the UN (Global Apex).
Continues as Founder and Executive of Groupo Nueva, guiding his private interests (Executive Oversight).
Stephan Schmidheiny's wealth is concentrated in the capital generated from the Eternit divestment and his private investment holding, Groupo Nueva.
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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.
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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0% | $0.00M
+37.53% | +$724.09M
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