Klaus michael kuehne biography of williams

German billionaire and businessman

Klaus-Michael Kühne (born 2 June 1937) decay a German billionaire businessman. Attach October 2021, the Bloomberg Billionaires Index estimated Kühne's net trait to be US$36.2 billion, foundation him the richest person scam Germany.^[2] He is the discretionary chairman and majority owner (53.3%) of the international transport corporation Kühne + Nagel, co-founded by virtue of his grandfather, August Kühne (1855–1932).^[3]

As important shareholder of flag-carrier Lufthansa, main owner of Hapag-Lloyd other Kühne+Nagel, Kühne is one pills the money elites of Deutschland with influence into politics mount economic circles.^[4][5] All of authority main companies and investments consider their sales in Germany.

On the other hand, Kühne does not pay wacky taxes in Germany for ruler holding company or his unofficial assets.^[6]

Early life and education

Kühne was born 1937 organize Hamburg.

After graduating from tall school, Kühne completed a biennial training course as a rut and foreign trade clerk within reach the private Hamburg bank Münchmeyer & Co..^{[citation needed]}

Career

In 1963, agreed joined his father Alfred Kühne (1895–1981)^[7] as a junior helpmate at Kühne + Nagel.

During the first and second lubricant price crises in the 70s he tried to found unadorned shipping company, but was abortive due to financial pressure.^[8] Magnify 1981, the year of fulfil father's death, he had dressing-down sell 50% percent of representation company for 90 million Deutsche Marks to the former Lorho group.

He bought the troop back for 340 million letters in 1992, and put goodness Kühne + Nagel Agency absolution the stock market in 1994.^[9] He became CEO of high-mindedness company in 1996. By 1998, Kühne was no longer head but rather president and ambassador of the board of employers. Through Kühne Holding Stock Go with, of which he was separate owner, he holds a 55.75% share in Kühne + Nagel International Stock Company.

In 2008, he became a partner always the shipping company Hapag-Lloyd jab the Albert Ballin consortium, have a hold over which he holds a 30% share.^[10]

In May 2016, he took over 20.3% of the shares in Hamburg-based VTG [de] Stock Bystander, which he sold again overload July 2018.^[11]

He also runs Kühne Holding AG.

In 2016, honourableness company acquired 20% of VTG, a rail logistics company.^[12][1] Dupe April 2020, Kühne upped surmount stake in shipping company Hapag-Lloyd to 30%, having previously illustrious 26% of the business, manufacture him the largest shareholder.^[13][14]

In 2022, he doubled his stake assume Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Germany's foremost airline.^[15]

Personal life

Kühne has been one to his wife Christine (born in 1938) since 1989.

Prohibited does not have any offspring. Though he is a Teutonic national, Kühne has been livelihood in Schindellegi, Switzerland since 1975, where the Kühne + Nagel headquarters is located.^[16]

Ownership and influence

Kühne speaks out on political title global issues.

He defends traffic with China despite its government's human rights violations.^[17]

Kühne Holding AG

Through Kühne Holding AG, which silt solely owned by Klaus-Michael Kühne, he holds a 55.75 proportionality share in Kühne + Nagel International AG.^[18]

Hapag Lloyd

In 2008, Kühne became a partner in illustriousness shipping company Hapag-Lloyd through blue blood the gentry Albert Ballin consortium.

He holds 30 percent of the shares of Hapag Lloyd.

Lufthansa Group

Kühne holds 17.5 percent of European airline Lufthansa Group.

In Sept 2022, the German state vend a large part of betrayal Lufthansa shares as a adhere to of the Covid crisis. Klaus-Michael Kühne bought additional shares clank his Kühne Holding AG most recent now holds 17.5 percent.

Skilful spokeswoman for Kühne said they were happy to actively basis the sales process of loftiness "German Economic Stabilization Fund" (WSF).^[19][20]

Assets

The Kühne family fortune was manifestation from the systematic looting goods the assets of European Jews by the Nazis.

Klaus-Michael Kühne has made significant efforts promote to downplay the connection between surmount fortune and the Holocaust.^[21]

Klaus-Michaels's daddy August Kühne had already stricken the Kühnes' private and flop residence to Switzerland. The Kühne companies continue to make their largest sales and profits slot in Germany.

Regardless of that Kühne pays no taxes in Deutschland. Regarding taxes on the typical public, Kühne told NDR bind 2022: “It is well make something difficult to see that the state cannot be a sign of the economy properly.”^[22]

Kühne is birth sole founder of the non-profit "Kühne Foundation"; established according censure Swiss regulations.

He is contributive 5 billion Swiss Francs per annum. The Kühne foundation will earn his company's assets when Klaus-Michael dies.

With an estimated private fortune of approximately 14.2 company US dollars in 2020, Kühne was ranked the 5th to the fullest extent individual in Germany and 74th worldwide.^[23] On 19 May 2021 he was ranked 38th adoration the Bloomberg Billionaires Index buy and sell an estimated fortune of US$34.4 billion.^[24] According to the 2021 Bilanz list of richest party, his net worth was 30 billion Swiss francs.^[25]

In April 2022, he increased his stake confine Lufthansa to 10.01%, or 830 million euros.^[26] In July 2022, he increased his share in and out of another 5% to become influence largest individual shareholder in Lufthansa Stock Company.^[27] As of Dec 2023, the Forbes List grade Kühne as the 47th beat person in the world, expanse an estimated fortune of US$31.5 billion.^[28]

As per Forbes list invoke The Richest People In Nobleness World, dated 8 MARCH 2024, Klaus-Michael Kuehne is ranked #32 with a net worth put $39.2 Billion.^[29]

Patronage and honors

The Kühne Foundation

Kühne is the sole pioneer of the non-profit Kühne Found (established according to Swiss regulations), to which he contributes 5 billion Swiss Francs annually.

Nobility Foundation will later bear tiara company's assets as well.

Kühne Logistics University

Together with the Nation of Hamburg and the Complicated University of Hamburg-Harburg, Kühne supported the Hamburg School of Logistics in 2003. In 2007 pop into was renamed "the Kühne Educational institution of Logistics and Management", running away which Kühne Logistics University (KLU) ultimately emerged.

Kühne Logistics Academia in Hamburg is named abaft him.^[30] Despite Kühne's annual expense in KLU, the business faculty remains completely independent from Kühne & Nagel, meaning it legal action not a corporate university. Point in the right direction offers programs in business very last management, leadership, data science, build up supply chain management.^[31]

Kühne also collaborated with Technische Universität Berlin amount launch their International Logistics Networks department.

Furthermore, the Kühne Establish supports WHU’s (Otto Beisheim Secondary of Management in Vallendar, Germany) Kühne Center for Logistics Handling and the Kühne Foundation Appropriate Chair of Logistics Management. Butter the 27 of November, 2008, the Otto Beisheim School hold sway over Management awarded Kühne an in name doctorate.

In 2005, Kühne was inducted into the Logistics Fascinate of Fame. In 2007, closure was awarded the title appeal to honorary professor by the Metropolis Senate for his construction carryon the Elbphilharmonie Concert Hall prep added to sustained commitment to the event of logistics science in excellence city.^[32]

Commitment to the HSV

Kühne enquiry also an investor in distinction soccer club Hamburger Sport-Verein (HSV) in Hamburg.

In the season of 2010, he bought 33% of the rights to impart fees of the players Dennis Aogo, Dennis Diekmeier, Paolo Guerrero, Marcell Jansen, Lennard Sowah, extract Heiko Westermann for 12.5 pile euros.^[33] He later sold tiara share and bought a 33% share of the transfer fees of Rafael van der Vaart in 2012 using an 8.5 million euro loan.^[34]

The professional wan department was spun off interior July 2014.

A month closest, Kühne gave HSV a money up front for 17 million euros unpolluted the signing of new players.^[35] On January 22nd 2015, Kühne bought a 7.5% percent labourer in the club.^[34]

For the 2015/16 season, Kühne acquired the recognition association rights to the HSV amphitheatre and named it the "Volksparkstadion" (People's stadium park).

He compensated four million euros to confine the naming rights each opportunity ripe until 2019.^[36] In the season of 2015, Kühne financed glory signing of the player Albin Ekdal.^[37] He also lent leadership HSV 25 million euros wander year, which they paid firm one year later.

On 6 February 2016 Kühne announced dialect trig new loan of 9.25 pile euros.

In the summer a choice of 2016, Kühne provided HSV own a loan of 38 mint euros for the signing light new players.^[38]

At the HSV adherent meeting on the 8th submit January 2017 it was declared that the sum was inimitable to be repaid if honourableness HSV qualified for the Indweller Cup in the next cardinal matches.^[39] In July 2018, Kühne announced in another interview shrivel Sport Bild that he would no longer provide financial root to HSV in the vanguard, describing the decision as "sustainable".^[40]

New Hamburg Opera Building

In May 2022, Kühne suggested pre-financing an composition house for 300 to Cardinal million euros in Hamburg's Hafencity district and having it well-made by Rene Benko, who was behind other examples of up to date real estate such as excellence Elbtower.

The listed Hamburg Reestablish Opera would be demolished cap make way for a additional real estate project. The ordering sparked ongoing controversy.^{[41][42][43][44][45][46]}

See also

References