Adolf Merckle Biography

Adolf Merckle photo

Adolf Merckle (March 18, 1934 – January 5, 2009) was a businessman, and one of the richest people in Germany.

Merckle was born in Dresden, Germany into a wealthy family. Most of his wealth came from inheritance. He developed his Bohemian grandfather’s chemical wholesale company into Germany’s largest pharmaceutical wholesaler, Phoenix Pharmahandel. His family also owns the generic drug manufacturer Ratiopharm, and large parts of cement company HeidelbergCement as well as vehicle manufacturer Kässbohrer.

He was educated as a lawyer but spent most of his time investing. He lived in Germany with his wife and four children.

Merckle was shorting shares of Volkswagen when, in October 2008, a short squeeze sent shares on the Xetra dax from 210.85 euros to over 900 euros in less than two days.

Adolf Merckle committed suicide on 5 January 2009; he was killed in a collision with a train near his hometown of Blaubeuren.