Karl Albrecht
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| Karl Albrecht | |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 February 1920 (age 91) Essen, Germany |
| Residence | Mulheim an der Ruhr, Germany[1] |
| Ethnicity | German |
| Citizenship | German |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Co-founder of Aldi |
| Net worth |  US$25.5 billion (2011)[1] |
| Spouse | Married[1] |
| Children | Two[1] |
| Relatives | Theo Albrecht (brother, deceased) |
Karl Hans Albrecht (born 20 February 1920) is a German entrepreneur who founded the discount supermarket chain Aldi with his brother Theo. He is among the richest men in the world, with an estimated net worth in 2011 of $25.5 billion according to Forbes, which ranks him 12th in its 2011 list of billionaires - making him the oldest billionaire in the Top 20 list.[1] Albrecht is the wealthiest person in Germany.[2]
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[edit] Biography
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This biographical section of an article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (March 2011) |
Karl and Theo Albrecht were born and raised in modest circumstances in Essen, Germany. Their father was employed as a miner and later as a baker’s assistant. Their mother had a small grocery store in the worker’s quarter of Schonnebeck, a suburb of Essen. Theo completed an apprenticeship in his mother’s store, while Karl worked in a delicatessen shop. Karl also served in the Wehrmacht during World War II. After the war, the brothers took over their mother's business.[3] The first Aldi (Albrecht-Discount) was opened in 1961.[citation needed]
In 1961, Aldi's operations were divided between the brothers, with Karl taking control of the more profitable Aldi Süd (South), and Theo managing Aldi Nord (North).[3]
In 1994, Karl Albrecht removed himself from the daily operations of Aldi Süd and took the position of chairman of the board. At the beginning of 2002, he also relinquished this position, thereby completely ceding control of the firm. Today, the business is no longer run by any of Karl Albrecht’s family members.
[edit] Personal life
Because Karl Albrecht has withdrawn himself from public life, little is known about him. Forbes magazine reports that he has two children, neither of whom is employed by Aldi. He reportedly lives in Essen, as did his brother Theo until the latter's death. He is a fan of golf, and plays at his personal golf course, the Öschberghof, which he built in 1976. He also raises orchids.[3] It is rumored that he collects antique typewriters.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e "The World's Billionaires (2010): #10 Karl Albrecht". Forbes. March 3, 2010. http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/10/billionaires-2010_Karl-Albrecht_3VFF.html. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
- ^ "The World's Billionaires (2010): 1 - 24". Forbes. March 3, 2010. http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/10/billionaires-2010_The-Worlds-Billionaires_Rank.html. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
- ^ a b c "Karl Albrecht's Profile page". Forbes. http://www.forbes.com/profile/karl-albrecht/. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
