Ludwig Merckle
Pharmaceuticals · Ulm
Net worth
$16.8B
Today
−$66M−0.39%Past month
+$2.1B+14.57%As of Nov 11, 2026, 1:50 PM EST
Ludwig Merckle owns 28% of construction group Heidelberg Materials, which he took over in crisis after the death of his father, Adolf, in 2009. Along with other members of his family, he owns Phoenix Pharma SE, a drug wholesaler that also operates a chain of retail pharmacies. His father died by suicide during a debt crisis that threatened to crush the family fortune until Ludwig orchestrated a turnround. To finance the rescue, he refinanced debt, sold drug maker Ratiopharm and a large stake in Heidelberg, and nearly had to sell Phoenix. He owns the snowcat maker Kaessbohrer and is co-owner of Zollern, which makes a range of products including bearings, gears, winches and motors.
Net worth over time
Principal holdings
2 positions| Company | Industry | Share | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
HeidelbergCement AG XETRA: HEI-DE | Finance & Investments | 62.1% | $10.4B |
Private and other holdings | Finance & Investments | 37.9% | $6.4B |
Also known for
- Ludwig Merckle was named Family Entrepreneur of the Year in 2017 by PwC's INTES Family Business Academy.
- A naturalist by hobby, he also owns the forestry company Blauwald.
“I did not want to brood on the past, but to look ahead, to secure the family heritage.”