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Wolfgang Herz

Wolfgang Herz

W. Herz
0.21% | + $16.94M
$8 B ₹ 72,767 Cr
Real Time Net Worth #445 Ranking as of 21 Feb 2026 By Forbes

More on Wolfgang Herz

Gender

Male

Age

76Y

Country

Germany

Born On

January, 1950

Deceased

No

Relationship Status

Unknown

Children

Unknown

Education

Unknown

Designation Info :

Self-Made

No

Entrepreneur Type

Inherited

Primary Organization

Maxingvest AG

Titles

Co-Owner

Sources of Wealth

Tchibo, Beiersdorf

Industry

Retail, Coffee, Consumer Goods, Investments

About Wolfgang Herz


W olfgang Herz, along with his brother Michael Herz, is a co-owner of Maxingvest AG, the powerful holding company that controls two of Germany's most iconic consumer brands: the coffee and retail giant Tchibo, and the skincare behemoth Beiersdorf, which is famous for its Nivea brand. The company was co-founded by their father, Max Herz, in 1949. After his death, his children inherited the business, which led to a series of bitter family disputes over the future direction of the company.

Wolfgang and his brother Michael eventually consolidated their control over the family's holdings. As the public face of the family, Wolfgang served as the longtime chairman of the supervisory board of Tchibo and has been a key figure in the family's business strategy for decades. The family is known for being extremely private, and their combined ownership of these two massive and highly profitable consumer brands makes them one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in Germany.

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Quick Reads


  • Co-owner of the holding company Maxingvest AG.
  • His family's holding company controls Tchibo and Beiersdorf (Nivea).
  • He is the son of Tchibo co-founder Max Herz.
  • Served as the longtime chairman of Tchibo.
  • He and his family are known for being extremely secretive.

Early Life and Background


Wolfgang Herz is a German businessman, the billionaire heir to the Tchibo/Beiersdorf fortune, a massive industrial and consumer goods empire spanning coffee, retail, and packaged goods. His colossal wealth is generational, tied to the assets founded by his ancestor, Max Herz, in 1949 (Tchibo) and the subsequent stake in Beiersdorf (ETR: BEI) (Nivea).

Herz's career is defined by generational stewardship and fiduciary oversight of the complex family assets. His structural role is tied to managing the family's assets through the holding company, Maxingvest, focusing on long-term stability and industrial expansion.

  • Maxingvest AG (Family Heir & Shareholder): The core private asset, the holding company that controls Tchibo (coffee and retail) and holds a majority stake in Beiersdorf (Nivea, Eucerin).
  • Beiersdorf AG (Major Shareholder): The publicly traded global leader in skin care and cosmetics.
  • Investment Strategy: His philosophy is rooted in long-term asset hold and conservative financial management in the essential consumer staples and chemical sectors.
  • Family Governance: He and his siblings control the Maxingvest holding company.

Career Journey of Wolfgang Herz


Wolfgang Herz's structural role is centered on fiduciary stewardship of his inherited assets, ensuring the long-term, stable management of the family legacy. The family's strategic genius lies in its commitment to consumer brand preservation and vertical integration (Tchibo's coffee-plus-non-food retail model). His wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term, stable profitability of the global consumer staples, retail, and pharmaceutical sectors.

He is based in Germany and maintains a key presence within the family's governance structure.

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Wolfgang Herz's Timeline


1980s (approx.):

Wolfgang Herz assumes a fiduciary oversight role in the family assets (Executive Ascent).

2000s:

Assumes a leadership role in the Maxingvest holding company (Executive Apex).

Ongoing:

Continues as a major family shareholder, guiding the long-term strategy (Executive Oversight).

Major Business Ventures and Investments


Wolfgang Herz's wealth is concentrated in his family's controlling stake in the private holding company, Maxingvest AG, and its publicly traded subsidiaries.

  • Maxingvest AG (Family Heir & Shareholder): The core private asset, the holding company that controls Tchibo (coffee and retail) and holds a majority stake in Beiersdorf (Nivea, Eucerin).
  • Beiersdorf AG (Major Shareholder): The publicly traded global leader in skin care and cosmetics.
  • Investment Strategy: His philosophy is rooted in long-term asset hold and conservative financial management in the essential consumer staples and chemical sectors.

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Philanthropy and Social Impact


Wolfgang Herz's social impact stems from Tchibo's role as a massive employer and provider of essential consumer goods across Europe. His family's stake in Beiersdorf supports the global health and beauty sector. His personal philanthropy supports various educational and community initiatives, often focused on children's welfare and regional support.

His personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives.

Fashion, Style, and Lifestyle


Wolfgang Herz 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 industrial sector.

Residing in Hamburg, Germany, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to corporate governance, strategic investment, and asset management.

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Quotes and Philosophy


No publicly available quotes.

Fun Facts & Trivia


  • He is an heir to the Tchibo coffee/retail fortune and a major shareholder in Beiersdorf (Nivea).
  • His family controls the Maxingvest AG holding company.
  • Tchibo pioneered the model of selling coffee alongside non-food consumer goods.
  • His fortune is tied to the successful generational management and stability of German consumer brands.
  • He holds an estimated net worth in the billions of dollars (2025 estimate).
  • His philosophy emphasizes long-term private ownership and brand preservation.

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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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