Dieter Schwarz
Founder of Lidl and Kaufland
Current Networth - $37.2 Billion
Personal Stats
| Name | Dieter Schwarz |
|---|---|
| Role | Businessman |
| Industry | Retail |
| Net Worth | $37.2 Billion |
Related People
Table of Contents
- About Dieter Schwarz
- Businesses Owned
- Early Life
- Family
- What Is Dieter Schwarz’s Net Worth?
- What is Dieter Schwarz's claim to fame?
About Dieter Schwarz
Dieter Schwarz is best known as the founder and owner of Schwarz Group, the parent company of Lidl and Kaufland, two of the largest retail chains in Europe. Under his leadership, Schwarz Gruppe has grown significantly, expanding its operations across multiple countries and becoming a major player in the global retail industry. Schwarz maintains a low public profile but is recognized for his contributions to the retail industry and his significant philanthropic efforts, particularly in education, research, and social initiatives in Germany.
Businesses Owned
Lidl
Kaufland
Early Life
Dieter Schwarz had a keen sense for business from an early age, which was further honed through his education and work experiences.
- Born on September 24, 1939, in Heilbronn, Germany.
Raised in a business-oriented family; his father owned a grocery store.
Attended a local business school in Heilbronn.
Joined his father's company, Lidl & Schwarz KG, in 1973, initially working in various roles.Took over the business after his father's death in 1977, focusing on expanding the discount supermarket chain.
Played a key role in the international expansion of Lidl and Kaufland, making Schwarz Group one of the largest retail companies in the world.
Family
Enjoys a quiet personal life with a commitment to business and charitable activities.
- Married Franziska Weipert in 1963; they live in Heilbronn, along with their two daughters, Regine and Monika.
- Known for extreme privacy; no media recordings of him exist, and he refuses interviews. Only three known photos of him are in the press or on Google Image search.
- Founded The Schwarz Foundation, which supports educational and cultural initiatives in Germany.
Dieter Schwarz is the owner of the world’s fourth-largest retailer group which brings in more than $167 billion in revenue. He is also one of the top 50 billionaires in the world. That said, Dieter has kept most of their personal life private, and little is known about his property investments and car collection. To find out more about Dieter Schwarz's companies and investments, you just need to scroll down.
| Net Worth | $37.2 Billion |
|---|---|
| Annual Earnings / Salary | NA |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | NA |
| Profession | Businessman, Entrepreneur |
| Nationality | German |
| No. of Houses | 1+ |
| No. of Cars | 1+ |
What Is Dieter Schwarz’s Net Worth?
In 2024, Dieter Schwarz’s net worth is around $37.2 billion which makes him the 44th richest man on the planet.
Most of Dieter Schwarz’s fortune is the result of the inheritance he got from his father Josef Schwarz. Dieter became CEO and Chairman of Lidl, a subsidiary of Schwarz Group after his father died in 1977. He is the current owner of the Schwarz Group and has had complete control over it. Meanwhile, a German billionaire also started Kaufland, a discount chain in 1984. He has put 99.9% of Lidl and Kaufland's share in Dieter Schwarz Stiftung, a charity foundation through which he controls his assets. Furthermore, he exercises 100% voting rights through another company. Dieter Schwarz's stake in Lidl is worth $27 billion while his stake in Kaufland is worth $5.6 billion.
What is Dieter Schwarz's claim to fame?
Dieter Schwarz changed the European retail landscape. Here are some of the main events from his life that made him one of the richest men in Europe and on Earth:
- Inheritance: Upon his father Josef Schwarz's death, Dieter Schwarz took over Lidl and became its CEO and chairman.
- The Expansion: After a couple of years of running Lidl, Dieter opened up a discount chain called Kaufland, and together with Lidl, both companies ended up under the biggest retail group in Europe which is Schwarz Group today.
What companies does Dieter Schwarz own?
As the owner, Dieter Schwarz has full control of the Schwarz Group which has more than 12,900 stores across 33 countries. According to Bloomberg, he controls his assets and companies through Dieter Schwarz Stiftung, a limited liability organization with a charitable goal. That said, Schwarz Schwarz Gruppe’s subsidiaries include the following.
- Lidl: It is one of the biggest discount retailer chains globally which generated $138 billion in revenue in 2023. Furthermore, Lidl has around 376,000 employees. The company officially entered the US market in 2017 and set up its first outlets in Virginia Beach and Hampton.
- Kaufland: The company was founded in 1984, a few years after the death of Dieter Schwarz's father. It is a German hypermarket discount chain with nearly 155,000 employees. It brought in $37 billion in revenue in 2023.
- PreZero: It is another subsidiary of the Schwarz Groupe that was founded in 2009. It deals with waste management and recycling services. It has close to 30,000 employees which helps in cashing in a revenue of nearly $3.9 billion in 2022.
- Schwarz Produktion: The company was founded in 1998 and now has approximately 5,500 employees. It produces goods for Lidl and Kaufland as well as for third-party clients.
- Schwarz Digits: In 2023, Schwarz Digits came into existence. According to the company’s website, it offers “digital products and services that meet Germany's high data protection standards”. It holds around 7,500 employees. It is also an umbrella company for Kaufland e-commerce, Lidl e-commerce, Schwarz IT, Schwarz Digital, STACKIT, Schwarz Media, and mmmake.
How does Dieter Schwarz spend his wealth?
Dieter Schwarz mostly invests in other companies. In 2021, Schwarz Group’s Schwarz Digits acquired majority stakes in Israel’s hybrid cloud cybersecurity innovator XM Cyber. Furthermore, in 2020, PreZero took charge of SUEZ recycling & recovery operations in Sweden.
How Many Houses Does Dieter Schwarz Own?
Dieter Schwarz has kept most of his personal life private. There is little to no public information about his real estate holdings.
How many cars does Dieter Schwarz own?
Unlike Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos, Dieter Schwarz’s car collection and other vehicles are not known to the public.
What are Dieter Schwarz’s charitable contributions and philanthropic endeavors?
In 1999, Dieter Schwarz has established the Dieter Schwarz Foundation (DSF). It has supported more than 70 institutions and organizations. Its support also includes funding for five Oxford Internet Institute (OII) Faculty members and The Dieter Schwarz Courageous Research Grant that is given every year. Other than education, the foundation also supports daycare facilities.
What’s next for Dieter Schwarz?
Dieter Schwarz stepped down as the CEO of Lidl and Kaufland a long time ago. For now, he is maintaining his status as the owner of the Schwarz Group and nothing more.
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FAQs
What is Dieter Schwarz’s net worth?
According to Forbes, Dieter Schwarz’s net worth is around $37.2 billion.
Why little is known about Dieter Schwarz?
Dieter Schwarz is an extremely private person who likes to stay away from attention. There is little to no information about his houses, properties, and other valuable purchases like cars or jewelry.
Who is Dieter Schwarz’s wife?
For more than 50 years, Dieter Schwarz has been married to only one person. His wife is Franziska Weipert. The coupe tired knot in 1963.
Dieter Schwarz owns how many companies?
Dieter Schwarz is the owner of the Schwarz Group which is the umbrella company for other subsidiaries such as Lidl, Kaufland, PreZero, Schwarz Produktion, and Schwarz Digits.
How much does Dieter Schwarz’s retail group make a year?
Dieter Schwarz’s Schwarz Gruppe generates revenue in hundreds of billions. In 2023, it made $169 billion in revenue.
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