Dieter Schwarz
Dieter Schwarz | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 24, 1939 Germany |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, Businessman |
| Known for | Proprietor of Schwarz-Gruppe, former chairman and CEO of Lidl and Kaufland |
| Spouse | Franziska Weipert (m. 1963) |
| Children | 2 (Regine and Monika) |
Dieter Schwarz (born 24 September 1939) is a German billionaire entrepreneur and proprietor of the Schwarz-Gruppe. He previously served as chairman and CEO of the discount supermarket chain Lidl as well as the hypermarket brand Kaufland.
Establishment of the Lidl Discount Chain (1973)
In 1973, Dieter Schwarz inaugurated his initial discount retail outlet in Ludwigshafen am Rhein. To secure the rights to the name "Lidl", he acquired them from retired educator Ludwig Lidl for 1,000 Deutsche Mark. Following domestic growth throughout Germany, Lidl commenced its expansion into other European countries starting in 1988.
By 2022, Lidl had grown to operate approximately 12,000 stores across Europe and the United States,[1] establishing itself as the world's largest discount retail chain by store count.[2]
Creation of the Kaufland Supermarket Brand (1984)
The origins trace back to 1968 when Schwarz and his father launched their first supermarket under the name Handelshof in Backnang. The inaugural Kaufland store opened in 1984 in Neckarsulm, with all existing Handelshof outlets subsequently rebranded. After the reunification of Germany, Kaufland pursued rapid expansion into eastern regions, debuting its first store in Meißen in 1990. Today, Kaufland holds a leading position in eastern Germany’s supermarket sector. Its international growth began in 1998 with an opening in Kladno, Czech Republic, followed by additional locations throughout Central and Eastern Europe.[3]
By 2020, Kaufland operated more than 1,470 supermarkets across Europe.[4]
Net worth
In 2009, Schwarz’s fortune was estimated at €10 billion. By October 2012, his net worth had increased to €12 billion, up from €11.5 billion in 2011. In 2013, his wealth was valued at €19.6 billion, placing him as the world’s 24th richest individual. As of February 2014, he ranked 23rd on the Hurun Report Global Rich List.
In 2023, Forbes recognized Schwarz as Germany's wealthiest person and ranked him 25th globally with a net worth approximated at US$47.2 billion. Since 1999, he has overseen his assets through the tax-exempt Dieter Schwarz Foundation (gGmbH), transferring ownership stakes in Lidl and Kaufland into this entity while directing profit distribution. The foundation focuses on supporting education initiatives, childcare services, and scientific research endeavors.
According to Forbes’ March 2024 ranking, Dieter Schwarz holds the #37 position with a net worth estimated at $38 billion.
Personal life
Schwarz wed Franziska Weipert in 1963. The couple lives in Heilbronn and has two daughters named Regine and Monika. His affiliation with the Protestant free church community played a significant role in shaping his values. Known for maintaining a low profile, Schwarz has no publicly available interviews or media footage, and only three photographs of him have been released through press or online sources.
References
- ↑ "WirtschaftsWoche". www.wiwo.de. Retrieved 2025-04-21.
- ↑ "Geschichte und Sortiment des Discounters Lidl". www.hna.de (in Deutsch). 2020-07-09. Retrieved 2025-04-21.
- ↑ "Handelsblatt". www.handelsblatt.com. Retrieved 2025-04-21.
- ↑ Löffler, Kathrin (2023-02-05). "Kaufland zieht an Supermarkt-Konkurrenz vorbei – Grund ist diese große Veränderung". DerWesten.de (in Deutsch). Retrieved 2025-04-21.