-
- Born: March 18, 1934
- Died: January 5, 2009
- Occupation: Lawyer and businessman
- Forbes magazine estimated Merckle's wealth at $9.2 billionBloomberg.com: 'Broken' Billionaire Merckle Killed Self, Family Says
- Killed when hit by a train near his home in GermanyBloomberg.com: 'Broken' Billionaire Merckle Killed Self, Family Says
- Reports say Merckle's investment company was renegotiating its bank debt at the time of his suicideBloomberg.com: Billionaire Merckle Killed by Train... (January 6, 2009)
- Reportedly suffered heavy losses from bets on Volkswagen AGThe Wall Street Journal: German Billionaire Merckle Commits Suicide (January 6, 2009)
- Merckle's business interests included stakes in pharmaceutical and cement companiesBloomberg.com: 'Broken' Billionaire Merckle Killed Self, Family Says
-
-
German billionaire businessman Adolf Merckle committed suicide in the wake of mounting debt in the wake of an ongoing global economic crisis. According to reports, the 74-year-old Merckle died after being struck by a train near his home in Blaubeuren, Germany on January 5, 2009.Times Online: German tycoon, Adolf Merckle...commits suicide Bloomberg.com: 'Broken' Billionaire Merckle Killed Self, Family Says
Statement from Merckle Family
"Adolf Merckle lived and worked for his family and his firms. The distress to his firms caused by the financial crisis and the related uncertainties of recent weeks, along with the helplessness of no longer being able to act, broke the passionate family businessman, and he ended his life."Times Online: German tycoon, Adolf Merckle...commits suicideQuote
"His empire was falling apart. This was his last desperate act."—Stefan Mueller, managing partner, Proprietary Partners AG in Frankfurt, GermanyBloomberg.com: 'Broken' Billionaire Merckle Killed Self, Family Says-
-
Adolf Merckle Questions
Was Adolf Hitler hot? 1 AnswerWell, not to me, or anybody who takes a moment to think about World War II, but his girlfriend Eva Braun probably saw something in him. http://www.editorialbita... read more
How did Adolf Hitler commit suicide? 1 AnswerEven now it's still a mystery BBC wrote this ten years ago when his Suicide Bunker was uncovered. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/475963.stm --quote-- Hit... read more