August von Finck Jr.
August von Finck Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 March 1930 Munich, Germany |
| Died | 28 November 2021 (aged 91) |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Financial backing of libertarian and right-wing political movements; major shareholder in SGS SA |
| Spouse | Francine Le Tanneux von Saint Paul |
| Children | 4, including August François von Finck |
August von Finck Jr. (11 March 1930 – 28 November 2021) was a German entrepreneur based in Switzerland, whose net worth was estimated at US$8.8 billion at the time of his passing.
Throughout his life, Von Finck Jr. was recognized for his financial backing of libertarian and right-wing political movements and parties.
Early life
He was born in Munich in 1930 as the son of August von Finck Sr. and the grandson of Wilhelm von Finck, who established the private banking institution that evolved into Merck Finck & Co..
Career
In February 2020, Von Finck divested the majority of his holdings in Switzerland's SGS SA, a prominent global company specializing in testing and inspection, selling 960,000 shares worth approximately $2.4 billion.
Other interests
In 2008, he acquired a Medieval history incunable for around €20 million, an acquisition that received approval from the government of Baden-Württemberg.
Supporter of Far-right party
Von Finck provided financial support to right-wing and libertarian causes over multiple decades. During the 1970s and 1980s, he was a backer of Franz Josef Strauß and the CSU. In the early 1990s, he contributed €4.3 million to the anti-euro League of Free Citizens and subsequently invested several million euros into the “Citizens' Convention” initiative associated with AfD politician Beatrix von Storch.
He played a key role as a financial patron of the German far-right party AfD. Additionally, an associate linked to Von Finck was reportedly involved in establishing “Deutschland Kurier,” a newspaper connected to the AfD.
Personal life
Von Finck was married to Francine Le Tanneux von Saint Paul, with whom he had four children. The family lived at Weinfelden Castle located in Thurgau, Switzerland. His oldest son is August François von Finck.
He died on 28 November 2021 at the age of 91.