Karl Albrecht Net Worth: $26.1 Billion
Karl Albrecht was a reclusive German billionaire tycoon who co-founded the Aldi chain of grocery stores along with his brother Theo. He had a net worth of $26.1 billion dollars at the time of his death in 2014, making him the richest person in Germany at the time.
Albrecht was notoriously secretive and never gave a single public interview during his lifetime. He served in the Wehrmacht during World War II and took over his mother’s small neighborhood grocery store with his brother after the war ended. They opened up the first Aldi (Albrecht-Discount) in 1961.
Karl took control of Aldi Sud (South), and Theo managed Aldi Nord (North). A 2002 study found that over 80% of Germans shopped at Aldi. Karl became chairman of the board of Aldi in 1994 but relinquished his position in 2002 at the age of 82. None of the Albrecht brothers are associated with Aldi to this day.
Up until his death, Karl Albrecht lived in Essen and played golf at the course he built in 1975, the Oschberghof. His brother Theo passed away in 2010. Karl Albrecht died on July 16, 2014 at the age of 94.