Klaus-Michael Kühne

He is the honorary chairman and majority owner (53.3%) of the international transport company Kühne + Nagel, co-founded by his grandfather, August Kühne (1855–1932).

As important shareholder of flag-carrier Lufthansa, main owner of Hapag-Lloyd and Kühne+Nagel, Kühne is one of the money elites of Germany with influence into politics and economic circles.

All of his main companies and investments make their sales in Germany.

However, Kühne does not pay any taxes in Germany for his holding company or his private assets.

After graduating from high school, Kühne completed a two-year training course as a bank and foreign trade clerk at the private Hamburg bank Münchmeyer & Co..

Klaus-Michael Kühne (born 2 June 1937) is a German billionaire businessman.

In October 2021, the Bloomberg Billionaires Index estimated Kühne's net worth to be US$36.2 billion, making him the richest person in Germany.

He has been married to his wife Christine (born in 1938) since 1989.

In 1963, he joined his father Alfred Kühne (1895–1981) as a junior partner at Kühne + Nagel.

He has lived in Switzerland since 1975 in the city of Schindellegi, the location of the Kühne + Nagel headquarters.

Though he is a German national, Kühne has been living in Schindellegi, Switzerland since 1975, where the Kühne + Nagel headquarters is located.

Kühne is the richest person in Germany, all of his main companies and investments make their sales in Germany.

However, Kühne does not pay any taxes in Germany for his holding company or his private assets.

The Kühne foundation, which was founded in Switzerland in 1976, will bear Klaus-Michael Kühne's company's assets when he dies.

Kühne speaks out on political and global issues.

He defends trade with China despite its government's human rights violations.

Through Kühne Holding AG, which is solely owned by Klaus-Michael Kühne, he holds a 55.75 percent share in Kühne + Nagel International AG.

In 1981, the year of his father's death, he had to sell 50% percent of the company for 90 million Deutsche Marks to the former Lorho group.

He bought the company back for 340 million marks in 1992, and put the Kühne + Nagel Agency on the stock market in 1994.

He became CEO of the company in 1996.

During the first and second oil price crises in the 70s he tried to found a shipping company, but was unsuccessful due to financial pressure.

By 1998, Kühne was no longer chairman but rather president and delegate of the board of directors.

Through Kühne Holding Stock Company, of which he was sole owner, he holds a 55.75% share in Kühne + Nagel International Stock Company.

In 2008, he became a partner in the shipping company Hapag-Lloyd through the Albert Ballin consortium, of which he holds a 30% share.

In 2008, Kühne became a partner in the shipping company Hapag-Lloyd through the Albert Ballin consortium.

He holds 30 percent of the shares of Hapag Lloyd.

Kühne holds 17,5 percent of German airline Lufthansa.

In September 2022, the German state sold a large part of its Lufthansa shares as a result of the Covid crisis.

Klaus-Michael Kühne bought additional shares with his Kühne Holding AG and now holds 17.5 percent.

A spokeswoman for Kühne said they were happy to actively support the sales process of the "German Economic Stabilization Fund" (WSF).

Klaus-Michaels`s father August Kühne had already moved the Kühnes' private and business residence to Switzerland.

The Kühne companies continue to make their largest sales and profits in Germany.

Regardless of that Kühne pays no taxes in Germany.

Regarding taxes on the general public, Kühne told NDR in 2022: “It is well known that the state cannot handle the economy properly.”

In May 2016, he took over 20.3% of the shares in Hamburg-based VTG Stock Company, which he sold again in July 2018.

He also runs Kühne Holding AG.

In 2016, the company acquired 20% of VTG, a rail logistics company.

In April 2020, Kühne upped his stake in shipping company Hapag-Lloyd to 30%, having previously owned 26% of the business, making him the largest shareholder.

In 2022, he doubled his stake in Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Germany's largest airline.

Kühne does not have any children.