Susanne Klatten

$27.46 B

Ranked #84 in World

About Susanne Klatten

Susanne Klatten, Germany's wealthiest woman with a $23.4 billion fortune, is renowned for her astute business finance acumen and pivotal investments. A University of Buckingham and IMD graduate, she transformed Altana into a DAX-listed leader, retaining major holdings post the €4.5 billion Nycomed sale. Her 19.2% BMW stake and role since 1997 underscore her influential corporate presence. Amidst personal challenges, she still contributes significantly to German industry and politics.

Born

April 28, 1962 in Bad Homburg, West Germany

Age

63 years

Source Of Wealth

BMW, Pharmaceuticals

Industries

Automotive

Citizenship

Germany

Residence

Bad Homburg

Education

Master of Business Administration, International Institute for Management and Development

Spouse

Jan Klatten (Married: 1990; sep. 2018)

Children

Parent

Herbert Quandt (1910–1982), Johanna Quandt (1926–2015)

Susanne Hanna Ursula Klatten was born on April 28, 1962, in Bad Homburg, Germany. She is the daughter of Herbert Quandt, a prominent German industrialist, and Johanna Quandt, a lawyer. Klatten grew up in a wealthy family and received a privileged upbringing.

Susanne Klatten: Family

Klatten's father, Herbert Quandt, was a successful businessman who inherited a large fortune from his father, Günther Quandt. Günther Quandt was a Nazi sympathizer and used slave laborers in his factories during World War II. Klatten's mother, Johanna Quandt, was a lawyer and the daughter of a wealthy Jewish family. She was also a Nazi sympathizer and was married to Herbert Quandt during the war.

Susanne Klatten: Career Highlights

Klatten began her career in 1981 when she worked for the advertising agency Young & Rubicam in Frankfurt. She later worked for Dresdner Bank, McKinsey, and Bankhaus Reuschel & Co. in London. In 1990, she joined the supervisory board of Altana, a pharmaceutical and chemicals manufacturer that her father had founded. She transformed Altana into a world-class corporation and sold its pharmaceutical activities to Nycomed for €4.5 billion in 2006. Klatten is also a major shareholder in BMW and sits on the company's supervisory board.

Susanne Klatten: Companies

Klatten is the majority shareholder of Altana AG and SKion GmbH. She also holds a significant stake in BMW and has options to increase her stake in German graphite maker SGL Carbon. Klatten's investments have made her one of the wealthiest women in the world.

Susanne Klatten: Major Achievements

Klatten's major achievements include transforming Altana into a world-class corporation, selling its pharmaceutical activities for €4.5 billion, and becoming the richest woman in Germany. She is also a major donor to the centre-right political party, Christian Democratic Union.

Susanne Klatten: Awards & Achievements

Klatten has received numerous awards for her business achievements, including the Bavarian Order of Merit in 2007.

She is also a member of the University Council of Technical University of Munich.

Susanne Klatten: Personal Life & Legacy

Klatten is married to Jan Klatten and has three children. She is a major donor to the centre-right political party, Christian Democratic Union. In 2007, she was blackmailed by Helg "Russak" Sgarbi, who threatened to release evidence of an affair. Sgarbi was arrested in 2009 and sentenced to six years in jail. His accomplice, Ernano Barretta, was arrested in 2012 and sentenced to seven years in prison.

Susanne Klatten: Trivia

Klatten's net worth is estimated at US$23.4 billion (January 2022), making her the richest woman in Germany and the 50th richest person in the world (Bloomberg Billionaires Index). She is also a licensed pilot and enjoys flying helicopters.

Wealth History

Timeline

1978

Police prevented an attempt to kidnap Susanne Hanna Ursula Klatten and her mother.

1981-1983

Susanne Klatten worked for advertising agency Young & Rubicam in Frankfurt.

1990

Susanne Klatten married Jan Klatten while interning at BMW in Regensburg.

1997

Susanne Klatten and her brother Stefan Quandt were appointed to the BMW supervisory board.

2005

Susanne Klatten became a member of the University Council of Technical University of Munich.

2006

Altana AG sold its pharmaceutical activities to Nycomed for €4.5 billion, leaving only the specialty chemicals business.

2007

Susanne Klatten was awarded the Bavarian Order of Merit.

2007

Susanne Klatten was blackmailed by Helg 'Russak' Sgarbi, who threatened to release evidence of an affair.

2009

Helg 'Russak' Sgarbi was arrested and sentenced to six years in jail for blackmailing Susanne Klatten.

2009

Susanne Klatten bought almost all remaining shares in Altana.

2012

Ernano Barretta, an accomplice in the blackmailing of Susanne Klatten, was arrested and sentenced to seven years in prison.

2015

Susanne Klatten's stake in BMW increased to 19.2% after her mother's death.

2018

Susanne Klatten and Jan Klatten separated.

2018

Altana and SKion (both wholly owned by Susanne Klatten) became shareholders of Landa Digital Printing with 46%.

Susanne Klatten : FAQs

What is Susanne Klatten's current net worth?

Susanne Klatten's current net worth is $27.46 billion.

What is Susanne Klatten's current global rank among billionaires?

Susanne Klatten holds the 84th position globally among billionaires.

What is Susanne Klatten's current ranking within the Germany?

Susanne Klatten holds the 4th position in Germany.

What was the change in Susanne Klatten's net worth compared to the previous year?

Susanne Klatten's net worth decreased by 1.06 billion dollars compared to the previous year 2025, when her net worth was 28.52 billion dollars.

What is the recent change in Susanne Klatten's net worth?

Susanne Klatten's net worth increased by 152.8 million dollars recently, a 0.56% increase, with her net worth standing at 27.46 billion dollars.

What are Susanne Klatten's main sources of wealth?

Susanne Klatten's main source of income comes from BMW, Pharmaceuticals.

In which industry does Susanne Klatten primarily operate?

Susanne Klatten is primarily involved in the Automotive industry.

What is Susanne Klatten educational background?

Susanne Klatten holds a Master of Business Administration from International Institute for Management and Development.

How old is Susanne Klatten?

Susanne Klatten is 63 years old.

How many children does Susanne Klatten have?

Susanne Klatten has 3 children.

How is Susanne Klatten involved in Altana AG and what were the major changes she made?

Susanne Klatten inherited a 50.1% stake in Altana AG from her father and sits on its supervisory board. She was instrumental in transforming Altana into a world-class firm listed on the German DAX and successfully sold its pharmaceutical division to Nycomed in 2006 for €4.5 billion, then redistributed that as a dividend to shareholders.

What role did the Quandt family play during WWII and how has it been addressed?

During WWII, the Quandt family used slave labourers in their factories. The documentary 'The Silence of the Quandts' led them to fund research into their activities during Hitler's regime; an independent study concluded they were inseparably linked with Nazi crimes. However, no compensation or apologies have been made.

What significant events have occurred in Susanne Klatten's personal life?

In her personal life, Susanne Klatten survived a kidnap attempt in 1978, married Jan Klatten after meeting him during an internship at BMW, and has three children with him. They separated in 2018. She was also blackmailed in 2007 over an affair, resulting in a jail sentence for the blackmailer.