Esther Grether

$1.98 B

Ranked #1680 in World

About Esther Grether

Swiss business magnate and esteemed art collector Esther Grether, born circa 1936, has amassed a net worth of US$1.5 billion by February 2023, according to Forbes. Since inheriting the Basel-based Doetsch Grether Group, a beauty and healthcare product company, from her late husband Hans Grether in 1975, she has served as its chair for over three decades. Grether also contributed her expertise to the Swatch Group's Board of Directors between 1986 and 2014. Renowned for owning one of the globe's most significant 20th-century art collections, her repertoire boasts over 600 pieces, featuring masterpieces by Pablo Picasso, Paul Cézanne, Salvador Dalí, Francis Bacon, and Alberto Giacometti. Notably, her collection includes Bacon's Triptych, May–June 1973, fetching a record $6.3 million at a 1989 auction. Furthermore, the Grether legacy includes a pivotal financial backing in 1962 that enabled the acquisition of 70 Giacometti works, cementing their influential status within both art and business realms.

Born

January 01, 1936 in Switzerland

Source Of Wealth

Art Collection

Industries

Fashion & Retail

Citizenship

Switzerland

Residence

Basel

Spouse

Hans Grether (deceased)

Esther Grether, born Esther Kast, is a prominent Swiss art collector and businesswoman. She was born around 1936, but the exact date of her birth is not publicly known.

Esther Grether: Family

Esther Grether is married to Hans Grether, who passed away in 1975. Together, they had two children: a son named Marc and a daughter named Maya.

Esther Grether: Career Highlights

Esther Grether inherited the beauty and health care products company from her late husband, Hans Grether, in 1975. She has served as the Chair of the board of the Basel-based Doetsch Grether Group for over thirty years. Additionally, she served on the Swatch Group's Board of Directors from 1986 to 2014.

Esther Grether: Companies

Esther Grether is associated with the following companies:

Doetsch Grether Group
Swatch Group

Esther Grether: Major Achievements

Esther Grether's significant achievements include:

Building and maintaining one of the most valuable collections of 20th-century art globally.
Owning and managing the Doetsch Grether Group for over three decades.
Serving on the Swatch Group's Board of Directors for nearly three decades.

Esther Grether: Awards & Achievements

Esther Grether has received numerous awards and accolades for her contributions to the art world and business community. However, specific details about these awards are not readily available.

Esther Grether: Personal Life & Legacy

Esther Grether is known for her passion for art and her commitment to preserving and promoting cultural heritage. She resides in a converted printing factory in Basel, Switzerland, which also houses her extensive art collection.

Esther Grether: Trivia

In December 1962, Esther Grether's husband, Hans Grether, played a crucial role in securing a bank guarantee that enabled Basel art dealer Ernst Beyeler to purchase American collector G. David Thompson's entire collection of 70 Giacometti works. This acquisition significantly enhanced the art scene in Basel and established the city as a prominent art hub.

Wealth History

Timeline

c. 1936

Esther Kast is born.

1975

Esther Grether inherits beauty and health care products company from her late husband Hans Grether.

1986

Esther Grether joins the Board of Directors of Swatch Group.

December 1962

Hans Grether provides a bank guarantee secured on Doetsch Grether shares, enabling Basel art dealer Ernst Beyeler to purchase American collector G. David Thompson's entire collection of 70 Giacometti works.

1989

Esther Grether purchases Bacon's Triptych, May–June 1973 at auction for $6.3 million, setting a record price for a Bacon painting at the time.

2014

Esther Grether retires from the Board of Directors of Swatch Group.

February 2023

Esther Grether's net worth is estimated to be US$1.5 billion by Forbes.

Esther Grether : FAQs

What is Esther Grether's net worth?

As of 2024, Esther Grether's net worth was $1.98 billion.

What are Esther Grether's main sources of wealth?

Esther Grether's main source of income comes from Art Collection.

In which industry does Esther Grether primarily operate?

Esther Grether is primarily involved in the Fashion & Retail industry.

How many children does Esther Grether have?

Esther Grether has 2 children.

Who is Esther Grether?

Esther Grether is a Swiss art collector and businesswoman with an estimated net worth of US$1.5 billion as of February 2023, according to Forbes. She was born around 1936 and has made significant contributions to both the business and art worlds.

How did Esther Grether build her fortune?

Esther Grether inherited a beauty and health care products company from her late husband Hans Grether in 1975. She has served as the chair of the board of the Basel-based Doetsch Grether Group for over thirty years and was also a member of the Swatch Group's Board of Directors from 1986 to 2014.

What is special about Esther Grether's art collection?

Esther Grether possesses one of the most valuable collections of 20th-century art globally, including over 600 pieces by iconic artists such as Pablo Picasso, Paul Cézanne, Salvador Dalí, Francis Bacon, and Alberto Giacometti. Her collection is housed in a converted printing factory which serves as her home.

What is notable about Esther Grether's acquisition of Francis Bacon's work?

Esther Grether owns Bacon's Triptych, May–June 1973, one of Bacon's three 'Black Triptychs,' which she purchased at auction in 1989 for $6.3 million—a record price for a Bacon painting at the time. She is also believed to own three other Bacon triptychs from the 1970s.

How did Esther Grether contribute to the art world through her family's business?

In December 1962, Hans Grether, Esther's late husband, provided a bank guarantee secured on Doetsch Grether shares. This enabled Basel art dealer Ernst Beyeler to purchase American collector G. David Thompson's entire collection of 70 Giacometti works, marking a significant contribution to the preservation and promotion of Giacometti's art.