Thomas Prinzhorn

Thomas Prinzhorn
Born	(1943-03-05) March 5, 1943 Vienna, Austria
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, politician
Known for	Member of the National Council of Austria, CEO of Prinzhorn Group

Thomas Prinzhorn (born 5 March 1943 in Vienna) is an Austrian entrepreneur and political figure associated with the national liberal Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ).

Education

In 1967, Prinzhorn completed his studies at the Technical University of Vienna, earning the title of Diplomingenieur (equivalent to Master of Engineering). He further obtained a degree in business administration from Harvard University in 1973.

Business and political careers

During the 1970s, Prinzhorn took over the family enterprise, the Prinzhorn Group, founded by his father Harald, establishing himself as a prominent industrial leader in Austria. He became a member of the board of the Federation of Austrian Industry in 1978. With an estimated personal wealth of approximately €1.3 billion as of 2017, he is recognized as the second wealthiest politician and ranks ninth among Austria's richest individuals. His influence was solidified through ownership of his father’s paper manufacturing companies, W. Hamburger Inc. and Mosburger Inc..

Within the paper sector, Prinzhorn served as CEO and expanded his political influence through various roles at the Federation of Austrian Industries: board member since 1978; chairman of the Committee on Education and Social Policy from 1975 to 1988; head of the Economic Policy Committee between 1988 and 1993; and president of its Vienna division from 1991 to 1993.

Prinzhorn was elected to the National Council in 1996 representing the Freedom Party and held his seat until 2006. Although anticipated to be appointed minister following the 1999 elections, President Thomas Klestil declined his nomination due to contentious xenophobic statements made during the campaign. Consequently, Prinzhorn was designated Second President of the National Council, which curtailed his public political profile.

In September 2002, he assumed the role of deputy leader within the Freedom Party. After the party’s fall to third place in that year's election, he was appointed Third President of the National Council. Serving as economic spokesperson, he backed the administration led by Vice-Chancellor and Freedom Party head Susanne Riess, while his rapport with Carinthia Governor Jörg Haider deteriorated.

Following internal disputes within the party in 2005, Prinzhorn resigned from the Freedom Party on April 27, 2006, citing significant disagreements with Haider’s leadership approach despite having contributed to restructuring efforts in Lower Austria’s financially challenged branch. Subsequently, he joined the splinter group Alliance for the Future of Austria, continuing as a Member of Parliament and Third Speaker until October 30, 2006.

Personal life

Prinzhorn legally adopted Karl Philipp Ernst Ferdinand Alwig Kilian Schwarzenberg (born 1979), who was originally recognized as the son of Karel Schwarzenberg, former Czech Foreign Minister. On 20 March 1990, Karl Philipp officially changed his surname to "Prinzhorn".

External links

• Austrian Parliament – Dipl.-Ing. Thomas Prinzhorn