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Thomas Struengmann & family

Thomas Struengmann & family

T. family
0% | + $0.12M
$11.97 B ₹ 1.09 Lk Cr
Real Time Net Worth #245 Ranking as of 21 Feb 2026 By Forbes

More on Thomas Struengmann & family

Gender

Male

Age

75Y

Country

Germany

Born On

April, 1950

Deceased

No

Relationship Status

Unknown

Children

2

Education

Unknown

Designation Info :

Self-Made

Yes

Entrepreneur Type

Self-Made (Pharmaceuticals)

Primary Organization

Santo Holding

Titles

Co-Founder

Sources of Wealth

Hexal (Sold), BioNTech

Industry

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology, Investments, Venture Capital

About Thomas Struengmann & family


T homas Struengmann, along with his identical twin brother Andreas, is a self-made German billionaire who built a massive fortune in the pharmaceutical industry. The brothers co-founded the generic drug company Hexal in 1986. They built Hexal into Germany's second-largest generic drug manufacturer, growing it into a major international player. They also owned a significant stake in the American generic drugmaker, Eon Labs.

In 2005, in a career-defining deal, the brothers sold both Hexal and their stake in Eon Labs to the Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis for approximately $7.5 billion. Since this massive exit, they have focused on managing their family's wealth through their private investment firm, Santo Holding. They have become major venture capital investors in the biotechnology and life sciences sectors. Their most notable and successful investment was their role as the seed investors and largest shareholders in BioNTech, the German biotech firm that, in partnership with Pfizer, developed one of the world's first and most effective mRNA vaccines for COVID-19.

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Quick Reads


  • Co-founded the generic drug company Hexal with his twin brother, Andreas.
  • Sold their pharma businesses to Novartis in 2005 for about $7.5 billion.
  • They were the seed investors and largest shareholders in the biotech firm BioNTech.
  • BioNTech co-developed the highly successful Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Their family office, Santo Holding, is a major investor in life sciences.

Early Life and Background


Dr. Thomas Strüngmann, M.D., is a German businessman, the self-made billionaire Co-founder of Hexal AG (generic drugs) and a major biotech investor (Biontech, BioNTech). His career is rooted in medicine, pharmaceuticals, and entrepreneurial audacity.

Strüngmann holds an M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) degree and practiced medicine before entering the pharmaceutical industry. His philosophical approach centers on scale, technological efficiency, and long-term commitment to affordable healthcare (pioneering the modern generic drug model). He co-founded Hexal in 1986 with his twin brother, Andreas Strüngmann, recognizing the immense, untapped domestic and international demand for affordable, high-quality generic drugs.

  • Hexal AG (Former Co-founder & Owner): The foundational source of his wealth, the major German generic pharmaceutical company (sold to Novartis for $7.5 billion in 2005).
  • Biotech Pioneer: His subsequent investments, notably in BioNTech (NASDAQ: BNTX), cemented his reputation as a technology visionary (BioNTech developed the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine).
  • Academic Background: He holds an M.D. degree.
  • Investment Strategy: His philosophy is rooted in long-term investment in industrial assets and biomedical R&D.

Career Journey of Thomas Struengmann & family


Dr. Thomas Strüngmann's strategic genius was his commitment to scale and efficiency. He co-founded Hexal in 1986, successfully building it into Germany's largest generic drug manufacturer. His structural contribution is immense: pioneering the scale manufacturing and professionalization of the European generic drug sector. The pinnacle of his financial career was the $7.5 billion sale of Hexal to Novartis in 2005 (a major monetization event).

Following the exit, he and his brother became major investors in BioNTech (along with Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci). His structural contribution is tied to providing foundational capital that enabled the development of the mRNA vaccine technology. His wealth is secured by the colossal liquid gains from the Hexal sale and the appreciation of his stake in BioNTech.

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Thomas Struengmann & family's Timeline


1986:

Co-founds Hexal AG with his twin brother, Andreas Strüngmann (Founding).

2005 (February):

Sells Hexal to Novartis for $7.5 billion (Major Exit).

2008:

Invests in BioNTech (Biotech Investment).

2020:

BioNTech develops the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (Biotech Apex).

Ongoing:

Continues as Co-founder and major private investor, managing his liquid wealth (Executive Oversight).

Major Business Ventures and Investments


Thomas Strüngmann's wealth is concentrated in the liquid capital generated from the $7.5 billion sale of Hexal to Novartis and his private investments (e.g., BioNTech).

  • Hexal AG (Former Co-founder & Owner): The foundational source of his wealth, the major German generic pharmaceutical company (sold to Novartis for $7.5 billion in 2005).
  • Biotech Pioneer: His subsequent investments, notably in BioNTech (NASDAQ: BNTX), cemented his reputation as a technology visionary.
  • Academic Background: He holds an M.D. degree.
  • Investment Strategy: His philosophy is rooted in long-term investment in industrial assets and biomedical R&D.

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Philanthropy and Social Impact


Thomas Strüngmann's social impact stems from Hexal's role in providing essential, affordable generic medicines globally. His investment in BioNTech was critical to developing the first mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine, a monumental contribution to global public health. His personal foundations support various initiatives in education, medical research, and mental health in Germany.

His personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives.

Fashion, Style, and Lifestyle


Dr. Thomas Strüngmann 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 stability, typical of a leader in the global financial sector.

Residing in Tegernsee, Germany, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to investment strategy, biomedical innovation, and philanthropy.

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Quotes and Philosophy


“My father always taught us that the greatest leverage for capital is achieved when you fund research that can change the world.”

Fun Facts & Trivia


  • He sold his generic drug company, Hexal, to Novartis for $7.5 billion in 2005.
  • He is a major early investor in BioNTech, the company behind the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
  • He has an identical twin brother, Andreas Strüngmann, who is also a billionaire and co-founder.
  • He holds an M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) degree.
  • His fortune is tied to the successful monetization of the generic drug and biotechnology sectors.
  • His philosophy emphasizes scale efficiency and biomedical R&D.

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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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