Georg von Opel
Georg von Opel | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 4, 1966 Kronberg im Taunus, West Germany |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, investor |
| Known for | Heir of the Opel family fortune, investor in Hansa AG |
Georg von Opel (born 4 May 1966) is a Swiss billionaire of German origin and an heir, being the great-grandson of Adam Opel, the founder of the German automobile company Opel AG.
Early life and education
Von Opel entered the world in Kronberg im Taunus, West Germany, as the son of Georg Friedrich Karl Adam von Opel—Adam Opel's grandson—and his third spouse Ingrid (née Revers). The family relocated to Switzerland in 1973, where he later acquired citizenship in 2014.
He pursued studies in economics and business administration at both the University of Rhode Island and the American InterContinental University, London campus.
Career
According to the Sunday Times Rich List, von Opel's net worth was valued at GBP £1.3 billion in April 2015, increasing to £1.654 billion by 2020. His fortune mainly stems from Hansa AG, a holding company focused on investments in publicly traded stocks and private equity ventures. His real estate portfolio includes assets located in southern England, Majorca, and the Engadin area within the Swiss Alps.
Donations
Von Opel is recognized as a significant financial supporter of the UK's Conservative Party. Through the Georg and Emily von Opel Foundation, he has provided funding to Oxford academic Sunetra Gupta, noted for her opposition to societal lockdowns during the Covid-19 pandemic and for co-authoring the Great Barrington Declaration.
Personal life
Residing in Switzerland, von Opel is a father to five children, four of whom are with his British-born spouse, former professional tennis athlete Emily Bond. Originally holding German nationality, he became a Swiss resident in 1973 and officially gained Swiss citizenship in 2014.