In Germany, the number of billionaires increases continuously, with the paths to asset in international comparison. About a quarter of German billionaires have built up its wealth through its own entrepreneurial activity, while this proportion worldwide is around two thirds. These differences shape the social and political discussion about economic opportunities and social mobility.
The number of billionaires in the European Union has increased significantly in recent decades – according to data from Forbes from only 4 in 2000 to 618 in 2025. Germany contributes significantly to this increase: 171 billionaires live today alone. While in countries like the United States many billionaires came to wealth through entrepreneurial own work, corporate succession and inheritance play an important role in Germany.
Growing in the event of assets – challenges in the real economy
Table of Contents
- Growing in the event of assets – challenges in the real economy
- Financial concentration in established industries
- Self -developed wealth in Germany: examples of entrepreneurial success
- Social importance of the asset structure
- Political and social dynamics
- Conclusion: equal opportunities and the importance of asset origin
- methodology
Since the global financial crisis, the number of billionaires in Germany has more than quadrupled – from 42 in 2007 to 171 in 2025 (Forbes, 2024). This growth exceeds all other EU countries-only Italy also records an increase, albeit to a lesser extent.
At the same time, according to the current data from Bloomberg, the overall economic development is moderately: the real GDP is now above the level of 2019, but something below the value that would have been expected when the pre -crisis trends were continued. The real wages also develop in a stable but reserved pace.
Financial concentration in established industries
The assets of German billionaires focus on some central industries. Retail and fashion companies have a total of around $ 175 billion, followed by the production industry (approx. USD 105 billion) and the automotive industry (approx. 75 billion USD). The technology sector and the healthcare system (including pharmaceutical) are also increasingly contributing to the total assets.
In the early 2010s, software startups and the manufacturing trade were particularly formative of new assets. Between 2010 and 2014, almost the number of tech billionaires in Germany doubled-with an increase of around 88 %, this area recorded the most dynamic growth. At the same time, the processing industry and the automotive industry benefited from a recovery after the financial crisis. Overall, technology and industry developed into central pillars of new assets.
This positive dynamic continued during the pandemic. A current Datawrapper report shows that, for example, Klaus-Michael Kühne (logistics) could almost triple his assets between 2019 and 2022. Investors in the biotech sector such as Andreas and Thomas Strüngmann also recorded a significant increase in wealth in the same period. Between 2024 and 2025 alone, the assets grew by German billionaires by $ 178 billion – which makes around 80 % of total growth in Europe.
Self -developed wealth in Germany: examples of entrepreneurial success
Despite the high proportion of wealth inherited, there are also billionaires in Germany who have built up their assets through entrepreneurial own contribution. They represent a minority, but their biographies show that under certain conditions, economic rise can be realized even today.
The distribution of large assets to a small population group, often through company succession and inheritances, is a formative characteristic of the German economic landscape. While the average budgetary assets are around € 20,000, the wealthiest 0.1 % have significantly higher values, especially due to capital investments and company participations.
The proportion of self-made billionaires is around a quarter- a low value in international comparison, which reflects the special features of the German economic and corporate structure.
Changed economic framework conditions are also reflected in the political landscape. Topics such as increasing living costs, living space situation and economic planning are in the focus of many citizens. Studies show that economic uncertainty can influence the political spectrum of opinion – regardless of classic indicators such as level of education or region.
Conclusion: equal opportunities and the importance of asset origin
The number of billionaires in Germany is increasing, with a significant part of the assets from company succession. At the same time, a look at successful founders shows that own contribution is still an important part of the economic rise.
New technologies, innovative business models and international markets today offer young people a wide range of opportunities to become successful even without family capital.
According to asset researcher Prof. Dr. Thomas Druyen result in three central observations:
- Thanks to new technologies, young people have real chances for the first time – regardless of inheritance or relationships.
- Over 85 % of the twenty richest people worldwide already come from the technology industry.
- Family businesses are often not continued over several generations: only about 30 % exist beyond the second generation.
methodology
The analysis is based on publicly accessible data from the Forbes World’s Billionaires List and the World Inequality Database (as of June 2025). All information on the amount of assets and categorization (Selfmade vs. Inherited) are based on the classification by Forbes. Only countries that have at least ten billionaires were taken into account for the evaluation.
The data was extracted automatically from the respective sources and then evaluated manually. The proportion of self-made billionaires was determined per country based on the total number and presented in percentage. The visualizations were edited.
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