U rsula Hutter-Schleicher is a German billionaire heiress whose wealth is derived from her family's stake in the Schaeffler Group, a global giant in the manufacturing of bearings and automotive components. She is the daughter of one of the company's co-founders. The company has grown into a leading supplier for the automotive and industrial sectors.

The family's most defining and perilous business move was the debt-fueled takeover of the much larger, publicly traded tire and auto parts manufacturer, Continental AG, in 2008. The deal was announced just as the global financial crisis struck, which nearly bankrupted the family's empire under a mountain of debt. However, the family managed to save the business and retain their holdings. Today, the family holds a controlling stake in both Schaeffler AG and Continental AG. Ursula is not involved in the management of the companies, but her inherited stake is the source of her billion-dollar fortune.