List of German entrepreneurs: Difference between revisions
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This is a '''list of [[ |
This is a '''list of [[Germans|German]] entrepreneurs''', businesspeople of German nationality or with German citizenship. |
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{{dynamic list}} |
{{dynamic list}} |
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==A–M== |
==A–M== |
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* [[Karl Albrecht]] (1920–2014) and [[Theo Albrecht]] (1922–2010), founder of [[Aldi]] |
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* [[Ludwig Bamberger]] (1823–1899), co-founder of [[Deutsche Bank]] |
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* [[Gottlob Bauknecht]] (1892-1976), founder of [[Bauknecht (company)|Bauknecht]] |
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* [[Heinz-Georg Baus]] (1934-2016), founder of [[Bauhaus (company)|Bauhaus]] |
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* [[John Jacob Bausch]] (1830–1926), co-founder of [[Bausch & Lomb]], makers of contact lenses and [[Ray-Ban]] sunglasses |
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* [[Friedrich Bayer]] (1825–1880), founder of what would become [[Bayer]], a chemical and pharmaceutical company |
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* [[Paul Carl Beiersdorf]] (1836–1896), founded [[Beiersdorf AG]], manufacturers of [[Nivea]], [[Eucerin]] |
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* [[Melitta Bentz]] (1873–1950), invented the coffee filter and started [[Melitta]], manufacturers of coffee, paper coffee filters and coffee makers |
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* [[Karl Benz]] (1844–1929), inventor of the gasoline-powered automobile; co-founder of the automobile manufacturer [[Mercedes-Benz]] |
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* [[Maximilian Berlitz|Maximilian Delphinius Berlitz]] (1852–1921), founder of [[Berlitz Corporation|Berlitz Language Schools]] |
* [[Maximilian Berlitz|Maximilian Delphinius Berlitz]] (1852–1921), founder of [[Berlitz Corporation|Berlitz Language Schools]] |
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* [[Carl Bertelsmann]] (1791–1850), founder of [[Bertelsmann]] AG, subsidiaries include [[Random House]] and [[Bertelsmann Music Group|BMG]] |
* [[Carl Bertelsmann]] (1791–1850), founder of [[Bertelsmann]] AG, subsidiaries include [[Random House]] and [[Bertelsmann Music Group|BMG]] |
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* [[Johann Adam Birkenstock]], in 1774 founded [[Birkenstock]] shoe company |
* [[Birkenstock|Johann Adam Birkenstock]], in 1774 founded [[Birkenstock]] shoe company |
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* [[Hermann Blohm]] ( |
* [[Hermann Blohm]] (1848–1930), in 1877, co-founder [[Blohm+Voss]], manufacturers of ships |
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* [[Carl F. W. Borgward]] (1890–1963), founder of [[Borgward]] |
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* [[August Borsig]] (1804–1854), founder of Borsig Werke |
* [[August Borsig]] (1804–1854), founder of Borsig Werke |
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* [[Robert Bosch]] (1861–1942), industrialist, engineer and inventor; founder of [[Robert Bosch GmbH]] |
* [[Robert Bosch]] (1861–1942), industrialist, engineer and inventor; founder of [[Robert Bosch GmbH]] |
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* [[Kaspar Faber]] (1730–1784), founder of [[Faber-Castell]], manufacturers of office supplies, art supplies, writing instruments and leather goods |
* [[Kaspar Faber]] (1730–1784), founder of [[Faber-Castell]], manufacturers of office supplies, art supplies, writing instruments and leather goods |
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* [[Günther Fielmann]] (born 1939), founder of [[Fielmann]] |
* [[Günther Fielmann]] (born 1939), founder of [[Fielmann]] |
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* [[Wilhelm von Finck]] ( |
* [[Wilhelm von Finck]] (1848–1924), co-founder of Munich Re and Allianz |
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* [[Eduard Fresenius]] (1874–1946), founder of [[Fresenius (company)|Fresenius]] |
* [[Eduard Fresenius]] (1874–1946), founder of [[Fresenius (company)|Fresenius]] |
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* [[Jakob Fugger the Elder]] (1368–1469), founder of [[Fugger]] bank |
* [[Jakob Fugger the Elder]] (1368–1469), founder of [[Fugger]] bank |
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* [[Marcus Goldman]] (1821–1904), co-founder of [[Goldman Sachs]] |
* [[Marcus Goldman]] (1821–1904), co-founder of [[Goldman Sachs]] |
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* [[Max Grundig]] (1908–1989), founder of [[Grundig]] |
* [[Max Grundig]] (1908–1989), founder of [[Grundig]] |
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* [[ |
* [[Franz Haniel]] (1779–1868), managing director of [[Franz Haniel & Cie.]] |
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* [[Karl Haniel]] (1877–1944), managing director of Franz Haniel & Cie. |
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⚫ | |||
* [[Edmund Heckler]] (1906–1960), co-founder [[Heckler & Koch]], 1948 |
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⚫ | |||
* [[Richard Hellmann]] (1876–1971), founder of [[Hellmann's and Best Foods|Hellmann's Mayonnaise]] |
* [[Richard Hellmann]] (1876–1971), founder of [[Hellmann's and Best Foods|Hellmann's Mayonnaise]] |
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* [[Johann Peter Henckels]], founder of (Zwilling) [[J.A. Henckels]], manufacturers of kitchen knives, scissors, cookware and flatware |
* [[Johann Peter Henckels]], founder of (Zwilling) [[J.A. Henckels]], manufacturers of kitchen knives, scissors, cookware and flatware |
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* [[Friedrich Karl Henkel]] (1848–1930), founder of [[Henkel]] |
* [[Friedrich Karl Henkel]] (1848–1930), founder of [[Henkel]] |
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* [[Max Herz (businessman)|Max Herz]] ( |
* [[Max Herz (businessman)|Max Herz]] (1905–1965), co-founder of [[Tchibo]], 1949 |
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* [[Dietmar Hopp]] (born 1940), co-founder of [[SAP SE|SAP]] |
* [[Dietmar Hopp]] (born 1940), co-founder of [[SAP SE|SAP]] |
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* [[August Horch]] (1868–1951), founder of [[Audi]] automobile company in 1909 |
* [[August Horch]] (1868–1951), founder of [[Audi]] automobile company in 1909 |
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* [[Helmut Horten]] ( |
* [[Helmut Horten]] (1909–1987), founder of [[Horten AG]] |
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* [[Georg Ferdinand Howaldt]] ( |
* [[Georg Ferdinand Howaldt]] (1802–1883), founder of [[Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft]] in 1835 |
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* [[Carolus Magnus Hutschenreuther]] (1794–1845), founder of [[Hutschenreuther family|Hutschenreuther]] |
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* [[Christoph Ingenhoven]] (1960), founder of christoph ingenhoven architects |
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* [[Rudolph Karstadt]] (1856–1944), founder of [[Karstadt]] |
* [[Rudolph Karstadt]] (1856–1944), founder of [[Karstadt]] |
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* [[Ernst Keil]] ( |
* [[Ernst Keil]] (1816–1878), founder and publisher of ''[[Die Gartenlaube]]'' |
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* [[Erich Kellerhals]] ( |
* [[Erich Kellerhals]] (1939–2017), co-founder of [[Media Markt]] |
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* [[Carl Kellner (optician)|Carl Kellner]], founder of Ernst Leitz GmbH, which later became [[Leica Camera]] AG, Leica Geosystems AG, and Leica Microsystems AG, producing cameras, geosurvey equipment and microscopes |
* [[Carl Kellner (optician)|Carl Kellner]], founder of Ernst Leitz GmbH, which later became [[Leica Camera]] AG, Leica Geosystems AG, and Leica Microsystems AG, producing cameras, geosurvey equipment and microscopes |
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* [[Roman Kirsch]], founder of [[Lesara]] |
* [[Roman Kirsch]], founder of [[Lesara]] |
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* [[Carl Heinrich Theodor Knorr]] ( |
* [[Carl Heinrich Theodor Knorr]] (1800–1875) founder of [[Knorr (brand)|Knorr]] |
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* [[Georg Krauß]] ( |
* [[Georg Krauß]] (1826–1906), co-founder of [[Krauss-Maffei]], 1838 |
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* [[Theodor Koch]] ( |
* [[Theodor Koch]] (1905–1976), co-founder of [[Heckler & Koch]], 1948 |
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* [[Friedrich Krupp]] (1787–1826), steel manufacturer and founder of the steel producers [[ThyssenKrupp AG]] |
* [[Friedrich Krupp]] (1787–1826), steel manufacturer and founder of the steel producers [[ThyssenKrupp AG]] |
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* [[Heinrich Lanz]] (1838–1905), founder of [[Heinrich Lanz AG]] |
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* [[Henry Lehman]] (1822–1855), [[Emanuel Lehman]] (1827–1907) and [[Mayer Lehman]] (1830–1897), German-born bankers, co-founders of [[Lehman Brothers]] |
* [[Henry Lehman]] (1822–1855), [[Emanuel Lehman]] (1827–1907) and [[Mayer Lehman]] (1830–1897), German-born bankers, co-founders of [[Lehman Brothers]] |
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* [[ |
* [[Ernst Leitz II]] (1871–1956), owner of Leitz Camera |
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* [[Louis Leitz]] (1846–1918), founder of [[Esselte Leitz GmbH & Co KG|Leitz]] |
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* [[Carl von Linde]] (1842–1934), founder of [[The Linde Group]] |
* [[Carl von Linde]] (1842–1934), founder of [[The Linde Group]] |
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* [[Henry Lomb]] (1828–1908), co-founder of [[Bausch & Lomb]] |
* [[Henry Lomb]] (1828–1908), co-founder of [[Bausch & Lomb]] |
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* [[Friedrich Lürssen]] ( |
* [[Friedrich Lürssen]] (1851–1916), founder of [[Lürssen]] in 1875, manufacturers of ships |
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* [[Joseph Anton von Maffei]] ( |
* [[Joseph Anton von Maffei]] (1790–1870), founder of [[Maffei (company)|Maffei]], later 1838 [[Krauss-Maffei]] |
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* [[Wolfgang Marguerre]] (born 1941), founder of [[Octapharma]] |
* [[Wolfgang Marguerre]] (born 1941), founder of [[Octapharma]] |
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* [[Carl Alexander von Martius]] (1838–1920), co-founder of [[Agfa]] |
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* [[Oscar Ferdinand Mayer]] (1859–1955), founder of the processed-meat firm [[Oscar Mayer]] |
* [[Oscar Ferdinand Mayer]] (1859–1955), founder of the processed-meat firm [[Oscar Mayer]] |
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* [[Friedrich Jacob Merck]] (1621–1678), founder of [[Merck KGaA]] (''Engel-Apotheke'' in Darmstadt) |
* [[Friedrich Jacob Merck]] (1621–1678), founder of [[Merck KGaA]] (''Engel-Apotheke'' in Darmstadt) |
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* [[George Merck]] (1867–1926), founder of [[Merck & Co.]] |
* [[George Merck]] (1867–1926), founder of [[Merck & Co.]] |
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* [[Joseph Mendelssohn]] (1770–1848), founder of former bank [[Mendelssohn & Co.]] |
* [[Joseph Mendelssohn]] (1770–1848), founder of former bank [[Mendelssohn & Co.]] |
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* [[ |
* [[Paul Mendelssohn Bartholdy]] (1841–1880), co-founder of [[Agfa]] |
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* [[ |
* [[Willy Messerschmitt]] (1898–1978), founder of [[Messerschmitt]] |
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* [[ |
* [[Heinrich Meyerfreund]], founder of [[Garoto]], chocolate company in [[Brazil]] |
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* [[Carl Miele]] (1869–1938), founder of [[Miele]], manufacturer of domestic appliances |
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* [[Frederick Miller]] (born as Friedrich Eduard Johannes Müller) (1824–1888), founder of the [[Miller Brewing Company]] in 1855 |
* [[Frederick Miller]] (born as Friedrich Eduard Johannes Müller) (1824–1888), founder of the [[Miller Brewing Company]] in 1855 |
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{{div col end}} |
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==N–Z== |
==N–Z== |
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* [[Josef Neckermann]] (1912–1992), founder of the company [[Neckermann]] |
* [[Josef Neckermann]] (1912–1992), founder of the company [[Neckermann Versand AG|Neckermann]] |
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* [[August Oetker]] (1862–1918), founder of the company [[Dr Oetker]] |
* [[August Oetker]] (1862–1918), founder of the company [[Dr Oetker]] |
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* [[Adam Opel]] (1837–1895), founder of the automobile company [[Adam Opel AG]] |
* [[Adam Opel]] (1837–1895), founder of the automobile company [[Adam Opel AG]] |
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* [[Franz Oppenheim]] (1852–1929), chemist, industrialist and entrepreneur |
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* [[Salomon Oppenheim]] (1772–1828), founder of bank [[Sal. Oppenheim]] |
* [[Salomon Oppenheim]] (1772–1828), founder of bank [[Sal. Oppenheim]] |
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* [[Ernest Oppenheimer]] (1880–1957), diamond and gold mining entrepreneur, financier and philanthropist, who controlled [[De Beers]] and founded the [[Anglo American Corporation]] of South Africa |
* [[Ernest Oppenheimer]] (1880–1957), diamond and gold mining entrepreneur, financier and philanthropist, who controlled [[De Beers]] and founded the [[Anglo American Corporation]] of South Africa |
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* [[Günther Quandt]] (1881–1954), industrial, entrepreneur of different companies (today includes [[BMW AG]] and [[Altana]] (chemicals) |
* [[Günther Quandt]] (1881–1954), industrial, entrepreneur of different companies (today includes [[BMW AG]] and [[Altana]] (chemicals) |
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* [[Karl Friedrich Rapp]] (1882–1962), co-founder of Rapp Motorenwerke GmbH, which later became [[BMW AG]] |
* [[Karl Friedrich Rapp]] (1882–1962), co-founder of Rapp Motorenwerke GmbH, which later became [[BMW AG]] |
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* [[Emil Rathenau]] (1838–1915), founder of [[AEG]] |
* [[Emil Rathenau]] (1838–1915), founder of [[AEG (German company)|AEG]] |
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* [[Paul Reuter]] (1816–1899), pioneer of telegraphy and news reporting; founder of [[Reuters]] news agency |
* [[Paul Reuter]] (1816–1899), pioneer of telegraphy and news reporting; founder of [[Reuters]] news agency |
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* [[Hans Riegel|Hans Riegel |
* [[Hans Riegel|Hans Riegel Sr.]] (1893–1945), founder of [[Haribo]], the manufacturer of gummi and jelly sweets |
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* [[Nathan Mayer Rothschild]] (1777–1836), founder of British company [[N M Rothschild & Sons]] |
* [[Nathan Mayer Rothschild]] (1777–1836), founder of British company [[N M Rothschild & Sons]] |
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* [[Hugo Sack]] (1860-1909), cofounder of Sack & Kiesselbach and founder of Sack, GmbH |
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* [[Ernst Christian Friedrich Schering]] (1824–1889), founder of the pharmaceutical company [[Schering AG]] |
* [[Ernst Christian Friedrich Schering]] (1824–1889), founder of the pharmaceutical company [[Schering AG]] |
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* [[Gustav Schickedanz]] ( |
* [[Gustav Schickedanz]] (1895–1977), founder of [[Arcandor|Quelle]] |
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* [[Anton Schlecker]] (born 1944), founder of [[Schlecker]] |
* [[Anton Schlecker]] (born 1944), founder of [[Schlecker]] |
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* [[Ernst Schmidt (businessman)|Ernst Schmidt]] and [[Wilhelm Schmidt-Ruthenbeck]] (1906–1988), founders of [[Metro AG]] |
* [[Ernst Schmidt (businessman)|Ernst Schmidt]] and [[Wilhelm Schmidt-Ruthenbeck]] (1906–1988), founders of [[Metro AG]] |
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* [[ |
* [[Dieter Schwarz]] (born 1939), owner of [[Schwarz Gruppe]] |
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* [[Fritz Sennheiser]] (1912–2010), founder of [[Sennheiser]] Electronic GmbH & Co. KG, specializing in high |
* [[Alex Seidel]] (1909–1989), co-founder of [[Heckler & Koch]], 1948 |
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* [[Fritz Sennheiser]] (1912–2010), founder of [[Sennheiser]] Electronic GmbH & Co. KG, specializing in high-fidelity products |
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* [[Georg von Siemens]] (1839–1901), co-founder of [[Deutsche Bank]] |
* [[Georg von Siemens]] (1839–1901), co-founder of [[Deutsche Bank]] |
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* [[Werner von Siemens]] (1816–1892), inventor, founder of [[Siemens]], the electronics and electrical engineering company |
* [[Werner von Siemens]] (1816–1892), inventor, founder of [[Siemens]], the electronics and electrical engineering company |
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* [[Friedrich Soennecken]] (1848–1919), founder of [[Soennecken]] |
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* [[J.S. Staedtler]], in 1835 founded [[Staedtler]] Mars GmbH & Co. KG, suppliers of writing, artist, and engineering drawing instruments |
* [[J.S. Staedtler]], in 1835 founded [[Staedtler]] Mars GmbH & Co. KG, suppliers of writing, artist, and engineering drawing instruments |
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* [[Bruno Steinhoff]] (born 1937), founder of [[Steinhoff]] |
* [[Bruno Steinhoff]] (born 1937), founder of [[Steinhoff]] |
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* [[Hugo Stinnes]] (1870–1924), co-founder of [[RWE|Rheinisch-Westfälisches Elektrizitätswerk AG]] |
* [[Hugo Stinnes]] (1870–1924), co-founder of [[RWE|Rheinisch-Westfälisches Elektrizitätswerk AG]] |
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* [[August Oberwelland|August Storck-Oberwelland]], in 1903 founder of Werther's Sugar Confectionery Factory, now [[Storck|August Storck AG]] |
* [[August Oberwelland|August Storck-Oberwelland]], in 1903 founder of Werther's Sugar Confectionery Factory, now [[Storck|August Storck AG]] |
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* [[Franz Ströher]] ( |
* [[Franz Ströher]] (c. 1854–1936), in 1880 founded cosmetics company [[Wella|Wella AG]] |
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* [[Carl Tchilinghiryan]] ( |
* [[Carl Tchilinghiryan]] (1910–1987), in 1949, co-founder of company [[Tchibo]] |
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* [[Carl von Thieme]] (1844–1924), founder of [[Allianz AG]], a financial services company |
* [[Carl von Thieme]] (1844–1924), founder of [[Allianz AG]], a financial services company |
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* [[August Thyssen]] (1842–1926), founder of ''Walzwerk Thyssen & Co.'' in Mülheim an der Ruhr |
* [[August Thyssen]] (1842–1926), founder of ''Walzwerk Thyssen & Co.'' in Mülheim an der Ruhr |
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* [[Friedrich Thyssen]] (1804–1877), founder of ''Draht-Fabrik-Compagnie'' in Aachen |
* [[Friedrich Thyssen]] (1804–1877), founder of ''Draht-Fabrik-Compagnie'' in Aachen |
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* [[Hermann Tietz]] (1837–1907), founder of [[Hertie]], a department store |
* [[Hermann Tietz]] (1837–1907), founder of [[Hertie]], a department store |
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* [[Klaus Tschira]] ( |
* [[Klaus Tschira]] (1940–2015), co-founder of [[SAP SE|SAP]] |
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* [[Leopold Ullstein]] (1826–1899), founder of publishing company [[Ullstein Verlag]] |
* [[Leopold Ullstein]] (1826–1899), founder of publishing company [[Ullstein Verlag]] |
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* [[Ernst Voss]] ( |
* [[Ernst Voss]] (1842–1920), in 1877, co-founder of [[Blohm+Voss]], manufacturers of ships |
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* [[Carl Walther]] ( |
* [[Carl Walther]] (1858–1915), founder of company [[Carl Walther GmbH|Carl Walther]], manufacturer of guns |
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* [[Moses Marcus Warburg]] and [[Gerson Warburg]], co-founder of [[M. M. Warburg & Co.]], German bank |
* [[Moses Marcus Warburg]] and [[Gerson Warburg]], co-founder of [[M. M. Warburg & Co.]], German bank |
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* [[Siegmund Warburg]], founder of [[S. G. Warburg & Co.]], British bank |
* [[Siegmund Warburg]], founder of [[S. G. Warburg & Co.]], British bank |
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* [[Bartholomeus V. Welser]] (1484–1561), [[Welser]] brothers bank |
* [[Bartholomeus V. Welser]] (1484–1561), [[Welser]] brothers bank |
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* [[Georg Wertheim]] (1857–1939), founder of [[Wertheim (department store)|Wertheim]], a department store |
* [[Georg Wertheim]] (1857–1939), founder of [[Wertheim (department store)|Wertheim]], a department store |
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* [[Aloys Wobben]] ( |
* [[Aloys Wobben]] (1952–2021), founder of [[Enercon]] |
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* [[Reinhold Würth]] (born 1935), company [[Würth]] |
* [[Reinhold Würth]] (born 1935), company [[Würth]] |
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* [[Carl Zeiss]] (1816–1888), founder of [[Carl Zeiss AG]], a maker of optical instruments |
* [[Carl Zeiss]] (1816–1888), founder of [[Carl Zeiss AG]], a maker of optical instruments |
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{{Germans}} |
{{Germans}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:German entrepreneurs}} |
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[[Category:Lists of German people by occupation|Entrepreneurs]] |
[[Category:Lists of German people by occupation|Entrepreneurs]] |
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[[Category:German businesspeople|*Entrepreneurs]] |
[[Category:German businesspeople|*Entrepreneurs]] |
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[[Category:Lists of businesspeople |
[[Category:Lists of businesspeople]] |
Latest revision as of 01:14, 28 August 2024
This is a list of German entrepreneurs, businesspeople of German nationality or with German citizenship.
A–M
[edit]- Maximilian Delphinius Berlitz (1852–1921), founder of Berlitz Language Schools
- Carl Bertelsmann (1791–1850), founder of Bertelsmann AG, subsidiaries include Random House and BMG
- Johann Adam Birkenstock, in 1774 founded Birkenstock shoe company
- Hermann Blohm (1848–1930), in 1877, co-founder Blohm+Voss, manufacturers of ships
- Carl F. W. Borgward (1890–1963), founder of Borgward
- August Borsig (1804–1854), founder of Borsig Werke
- Robert Bosch (1861–1942), industrialist, engineer and inventor; founder of Robert Bosch GmbH
- Hugo Boss (1885–1948), fashion designer, founder of Hugo Boss AG
- Max Braun (1883–1967), founder of Braun GmbH, makers of personal care appliances, coffee makers and other home appliances
- Adolphus Busch (1839–1913), co-founder of Anheuser-Busch brewing company
- Adolph Coors (1847–1929), founder of the Adolph Coors Company brewery, now part of MillerCoors
- Gottlieb Daimler (1834–1900), inventor, engineer and industrialist; founder of Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft, now Daimler AG
- Adolf Dassler (1900–1978), founder of sportswear company Adidas
- Rudolf Dassler (1898–1974), founder of sportwear company Puma
- Adelbert Delbrück (1822–1899), co-founder of Deutsche Bank
- Guido Henckel von Donnersmarck (1830–1916), founder of company Schlesische AG für Bergbau und Zinkhüttenbetrieb
- Friedrich Engelhorn (1821–1902), founder of the chemical company BASF
- Kaspar Faber (1730–1784), founder of Faber-Castell, manufacturers of office supplies, art supplies, writing instruments and leather goods
- Günther Fielmann (born 1939), founder of Fielmann
- Wilhelm von Finck (1848–1924), co-founder of Munich Re and Allianz
- Eduard Fresenius (1874–1946), founder of Fresenius
- Jakob Fugger the Elder (1368–1469), founder of Fugger bank
- Marcus Goldman (1821–1904), co-founder of Goldman Sachs
- Max Grundig (1908–1989), founder of Grundig
- Franz Haniel (1779–1868), managing director of Franz Haniel & Cie.
- Karl Haniel (1877–1944), managing director of Franz Haniel & Cie.
- Edmund Heckler (1906–1960), co-founder Heckler & Koch, 1948
- Ernst Heinkel (1888–1958), founder of Heinkel, manufacturers of airplanes
- Richard Hellmann (1876–1971), founder of Hellmann's Mayonnaise
- Johann Peter Henckels, founder of (Zwilling) J.A. Henckels, manufacturers of kitchen knives, scissors, cookware and flatware
- Friedrich Karl Henkel (1848–1930), founder of Henkel
- Max Herz (1905–1965), co-founder of Tchibo, 1949
- Dietmar Hopp (born 1940), co-founder of SAP
- August Horch (1868–1951), founder of Audi automobile company in 1909
- Helmut Horten (1909–1987), founder of Horten AG
- Georg Ferdinand Howaldt (1802–1883), founder of Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft in 1835
- Carolus Magnus Hutschenreuther (1794–1845), founder of Hutschenreuther
- Christoph Ingenhoven (1960), founder of christoph ingenhoven architects
- Hugo Junkers (1859–1935), founder of Junkers in 1895, manufacturers of airplanes
- Rudolph Karstadt (1856–1944), founder of Karstadt
- Ernst Keil (1816–1878), founder and publisher of Die Gartenlaube
- Erich Kellerhals (1939–2017), co-founder of Media Markt
- Carl Kellner, founder of Ernst Leitz GmbH, which later became Leica Camera AG, Leica Geosystems AG, and Leica Microsystems AG, producing cameras, geosurvey equipment and microscopes
- Roman Kirsch, founder of Lesara
- Carl Heinrich Theodor Knorr (1800–1875) founder of Knorr
- Georg Krauß (1826–1906), co-founder of Krauss-Maffei, 1838
- Theodor Koch (1905–1976), co-founder of Heckler & Koch, 1948
- Friedrich Krupp (1787–1826), steel manufacturer and founder of the steel producers ThyssenKrupp AG
- Heinrich Lanz (1838–1905), founder of Heinrich Lanz AG
- Henry Lehman (1822–1855), Emanuel Lehman (1827–1907) and Mayer Lehman (1830–1897), German-born bankers, co-founders of Lehman Brothers
- Ernst Leitz II (1871–1956), owner of Leitz Camera
- Louis Leitz (1846–1918), founder of Leitz
- Carl von Linde (1842–1934), founder of The Linde Group
- Henry Lomb (1828–1908), co-founder of Bausch & Lomb
- Friedrich Lürssen (1851–1916), founder of Lürssen in 1875, manufacturers of ships
- Joseph Anton von Maffei (1790–1870), founder of Maffei, later 1838 Krauss-Maffei
- Wolfgang Marguerre (born 1941), founder of Octapharma
- Carl Alexander von Martius (1838–1920), co-founder of Agfa
- Oscar Ferdinand Mayer (1859–1955), founder of the processed-meat firm Oscar Mayer
- Friedrich Jacob Merck (1621–1678), founder of Merck KGaA (Engel-Apotheke in Darmstadt)
- George Merck (1867–1926), founder of Merck & Co.
- Joseph Mendelssohn (1770–1848), founder of former bank Mendelssohn & Co.
- Paul Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1841–1880), co-founder of Agfa
- Willy Messerschmitt (1898–1978), founder of Messerschmitt
- Heinrich Meyerfreund, founder of Garoto, chocolate company in Brazil
- Carl Miele (1869–1938), founder of Miele, manufacturer of domestic appliances
- Frederick Miller (born as Friedrich Eduard Johannes Müller) (1824–1888), founder of the Miller Brewing Company in 1855
N–Z
[edit]- Josef Neckermann (1912–1992), founder of the company Neckermann
- August Oetker (1862–1918), founder of the company Dr Oetker
- Adam Opel (1837–1895), founder of the automobile company Adam Opel AG
- Franz Oppenheim (1852–1929), chemist, industrialist and entrepreneur
- Salomon Oppenheim (1772–1828), founder of bank Sal. Oppenheim
- Ernest Oppenheimer (1880–1957), diamond and gold mining entrepreneur, financier and philanthropist, who controlled De Beers and founded the Anglo American Corporation of South Africa
- Werner Otto (1909–2011), founder of Otto GmbH, now Otto Group, a mail order company
- Hasso Plattner (born 1944), co-founder of SAP
- Ferdinand Porsche (1875–1951), designer and founder of Porsche
- Günther Quandt (1881–1954), industrial, entrepreneur of different companies (today includes BMW AG and Altana (chemicals)
- Karl Friedrich Rapp (1882–1962), co-founder of Rapp Motorenwerke GmbH, which later became BMW AG
- Emil Rathenau (1838–1915), founder of AEG
- Paul Reuter (1816–1899), pioneer of telegraphy and news reporting; founder of Reuters news agency
- Hans Riegel Sr. (1893–1945), founder of Haribo, the manufacturer of gummi and jelly sweets
- Nathan Mayer Rothschild (1777–1836), founder of British company N M Rothschild & Sons
- Hugo Sack (1860-1909), cofounder of Sack & Kiesselbach and founder of Sack, GmbH
- Ernst Christian Friedrich Schering (1824–1889), founder of the pharmaceutical company Schering AG
- Gustav Schickedanz (1895–1977), founder of Quelle
- Anton Schlecker (born 1944), founder of Schlecker
- Ernst Schmidt and Wilhelm Schmidt-Ruthenbeck (1906–1988), founders of Metro AG
- Dieter Schwarz (born 1939), owner of Schwarz Gruppe
- Alex Seidel (1909–1989), co-founder of Heckler & Koch, 1948
- Fritz Sennheiser (1912–2010), founder of Sennheiser Electronic GmbH & Co. KG, specializing in high-fidelity products
- Georg von Siemens (1839–1901), co-founder of Deutsche Bank
- Werner von Siemens (1816–1892), inventor, founder of Siemens, the electronics and electrical engineering company
- Friedrich Soennecken (1848–1919), founder of Soennecken
- J.S. Staedtler, in 1835 founded Staedtler Mars GmbH & Co. KG, suppliers of writing, artist, and engineering drawing instruments
- Bruno Steinhoff (born 1937), founder of Steinhoff
- Henry E. Steinway (1797–1871), founder of the piano company Steinway & Sons
- Hugo Stinnes (1870–1924), co-founder of Rheinisch-Westfälisches Elektrizitätswerk AG
- August Storck-Oberwelland, in 1903 founder of Werther's Sugar Confectionery Factory, now August Storck AG
- Franz Ströher (c. 1854–1936), in 1880 founded cosmetics company Wella AG
- Carl Tchilinghiryan (1910–1987), in 1949, co-founder of company Tchibo
- Carl von Thieme (1844–1924), founder of Allianz AG, a financial services company
- August Thyssen (1842–1926), founder of Walzwerk Thyssen & Co. in Mülheim an der Ruhr
- Friedrich Thyssen (1804–1877), founder of Draht-Fabrik-Compagnie in Aachen
- Hermann Tietz (1837–1907), founder of Hertie, a department store
- Klaus Tschira (1940–2015), co-founder of SAP
- Leopold Ullstein (1826–1899), founder of publishing company Ullstein Verlag
- Ernst Voss (1842–1920), in 1877, co-founder of Blohm+Voss, manufacturers of ships
- Carl Walther (1858–1915), founder of company Carl Walther, manufacturer of guns
- Moses Marcus Warburg and Gerson Warburg, co-founder of M. M. Warburg & Co., German bank
- Siegmund Warburg, founder of S. G. Warburg & Co., British bank
- Claus Wellenreuther (born 1935), co-founder of SAP
- Bartholomeus V. Welser (1484–1561), Welser brothers bank
- Georg Wertheim (1857–1939), founder of Wertheim, a department store
- Aloys Wobben (1952–2021), founder of Enercon
- Reinhold Würth (born 1935), company Würth
- Carl Zeiss (1816–1888), founder of Carl Zeiss AG, a maker of optical instruments
- Ferdinand von Zeppelin (1838–1917), inventor of the Zeppelin; founder of the Zeppelin Airship company