Ludwig Kurt Merckle (born 1965) is a German businessman. He is CEO of Merckle Service GmbH. As of October 2021, his net worth is estimated at US$6.3 billion.
His father was Adolf Merckle, founder of the Merckle group. Ludwig Kurt Merckle earned a degree in business information technology (Diplom-Wirtschaftsinformatiker) from the University of Mannheim.
Career
Merckle started his career as a strategic consultant at Roland Berger in 1993. In 1995, he joined his family’s business as an assistant manager. In 1997, he was promoted to CEO of Merckle GmbH, parent company of Ratiopharm GmbH. In 2005, he was appointed CEO of VEM Vermögensverwaltung GmbH, and in 2009, CEO of Merckle Service GmbH, after his father committed suicide and left the family group in debt.
In March 2010, the generic drugmaking arm of Merckle, Ratiopharm, was sold to Teva Pharmaceutical Industries for €3.6 billion, 55% of HeidelbergCement for €2.5 billion, and other assets to clear their debts
CEO, Merckle Service GmbH
- Most of Ludwig Merckle’s wealth is from HeidelbergCement; he owns 27% after having sold nearly half the company following the 2008 financial crisis.
- Along with other members of his family, he owns Phoenix Pharma SE, a drug wholesaler that also operates a chain of retail pharmacies.
- Net worth: $6.1 billion
- After his father Adolf’s death in 2009, Ludwig impressively turned around a tumbling family fortune mired in crisis and debt.
- To finance the rescue, he sold drug maker Ratiopharm 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.
