Ralph Dommermuth
Ralph Dommermuth | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1963 Montabaur, Germany |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Founder, chairman, and CEO of United Internet |
Ralph Dommermuth (born 1963) is a German entrepreneur, recognized as the founder, chairman, and CEO of United Internet.
Career
Dommermuth grew up in Montabaur, Germany. Following his apprenticeship at Deutsche Bank, he began his career in 1983 as a freelance sales agent for a regional PC retailer.
In 1988, he co-established 1&1 EDV Marketing GmbH and introduced "Software Börse," a marketing platform tailored for software companies that earned the German direct marketing award in 1989. The firm also hosted exhibitions at CEBIT in Hannover, including events like "Software-Zentrum Mittelstand" and "Software for Europe." By 1992, 1&1 was tasked by Deutsche Telekom with distributing Bildschirmtext access points and subsequently T-Online accounts.
Shifting focus from marketing to internet services, Dommermuth converted 1&1 into an internet service provider in 1996. In March 1998, it became the first German internet company to go public through an IPO. The capital raised facilitated investments in IT firms such as GMX and Schlund + Partner AG. During the height of the Dot-com bubble, 1&1 Holding held stakes in 17 internet companies, leading Dommermuth to rename the enterprise United Internet.
Dommermuth holds a 42% ownership stake in United Internet, which is based in Germany and operates brands including 1&1, GMX, and Web.de. In 2020, United Internet generated revenues of €5.4 billion and maintained 66 million accounts across 17 countries.
Between August 2014 and June 2015, Dommermuth was a member of Rocket Internet’s Supervisory Board. In 2017, United Internet merged its subsidiary 1&1 Telecommunication SE into Drillisch AG, gaining majority control of over 75% in the newly named 1&1 Drillisch AG by January 2018. Dommermuth assumed the role of Chairman of its Management Board on January 1, 2018; the company was later renamed 1&1 AG in 2021.
In 2019, 1&1 AG acquired spectrum licenses during Germany’s 5G auction, laying the groundwork for establishing a fourth mobile network. In August 2021, it announced intentions to build Europe's most advanced mobile network utilizing OpenRAN technology in collaboration with Japanese technology firm Rakuten, with construction commencing that year.
Starting from the 2020/21 season, 1&1 became the official shirt sponsor for Borussia Dortmund’s Bundesliga games. In March 2020, Dommermuth increased his involvement by purchasing a 5% shareholding in Borussia Dortmund via his company Ralph Dommermuth Beteiligungen GmbH.
He is notable as Germany’s only internet billionaire and stands as its youngest self-made billionaire.
Donations
In the course of Germany’s federal elections in 2017, Ralph Dommermuth made the largest political contribution by donating €500,000 to the CDU, the nation’s conservative party.
In 2006, Dommermuth established the United Internet for UNICEF foundation aimed at enhancing living conditions for children and disadvantaged individuals through fundraising initiatives utilizing United Internet’s platforms such as WEB.DE, GMX, and 1&1. Having raised over €50 million, it ranks among UNICEF’s most significant individual donors and was honored with the "Gustav Rau Prize" in 2014 as well as UNICEF Germany’s "Partner of the Year" award in 2016—an accolade Dommermuth was the first recipient of.
In collaboration with former Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, he co-founded the Westerwelle Foundation in 2013. Headquartered in Berlin, this organization fosters international cooperation, democracy, market economy principles, rule of law, and tolerance within developing nations.
The Ralph and Judith Dommermuth Foundation backs philanthropic initiatives and has operated "Wir zusammen" (We Together) since 2016—a platform that highlights German corporate efforts to integrate refugees socially and professionally. Originally launched by thirty-six companies, it now includes over two hundred participants and encourages corporate social responsibility through targeted advertising campaigns.
In support of United Internet Team Germany’s inaugural participation in the America’s Cup in 2007, Dommermuth personally invested around €20 million alongside United Internet’s advertising budget. The team secured challenger status for the 32nd America’s Cup shortly before the April 2005 deadline.
Personal life
Dommermuth is a father to one child from a former marriage. He is currently wed to Judith Berger, who is both a model and an entrepreneur in the fashion industry. The couple lives in Montabaur.