S usanne Klatten is a German billionaire heiress and, for many years, the richest woman in Germany. Her vast fortune is derived from the stakes she inherited in two major German industrial companies. She is the daughter of the late Herbert Quandt, the legendary industrialist who saved the luxury automaker BMW from bankruptcy in the 1950s. Upon his death, she and her younger brother, Stefan Quandt, inherited their family's massive fortune, including their father's nearly 50% stake in BMW. Susanne Klatten now owns 19.1% of the carmaker and serves on its supervisory board.

In addition to her BMW inheritance, Klatten also inherited a controlling stake in the specialty chemicals company Altana AG from her father. An economist with an MBA, she has taken an active role in this business, transforming it into a world-class specialty chemicals player and serving on its supervisory board. Her combined holdings in both the automotive and chemical industries make her one of the most powerful and influential women in German business. She is also known for being the victim of a high-profile blackmail and extortion attempt, which she bravely brought to the authorities.