Who is Susanne Klatten?
Susanne Klatten is the German industrialist who holds about 20% of BMW directly and controls the investment company SKion, which owns Altana and a stake in SGL Carbon. Forbes’ real-time list valued her at $25.57 billion on 10 September 2026, fourth in Germany 1. She is the daughter of Herbert Quandt, the BMW shareholder who died in 1982, and one of the wealthiest women in the world 3.
How did Susanne Klatten make her money?
She inherited a large BMW holding and the chemicals group Altana from her father, then built a wider portfolio. Her BMW stake rose after the death of her mother, Johanna Quandt, in 2015. Altana sold its pharmaceutical business to Nycomed for €4.5 billion in 2006. Together with her brother Stefan Quandt she holds 48.5% of BMW 34.
Early life and education
She was born on 28 April 1962 in Bad Homburg, Germany. She earned a degree in business finance, took a marketing and management course at the University of Buckingham and completed an MBA at IMD in Lausanne. She worked at Young & Rubicam in Frankfurt from 1981 to 1983, and later at Dresdner Bank in London and McKinsey in Munich 3.
BMW, SKion and Altana
She has sat on BMW’s supervisory board since 1997. SKion bundles her other stakes, including Altana (specialty chemicals) and SGL Carbon, where she held 28.5% in February 2023 and chaired the supervisory board from 2013 until May 2023 346. SKion sold its entire Nordex holding, about 7 million shares, on 30 January 2026 5. Since 2024 she has been handing SKion to her three children in stages while remaining managing director 4. Read Susanne Klatten’s companies.
Education and philanthropy
She founded UnternehmerTUM in 2002, a non-profit that supports start-ups with the Technical University of Munich, and chairs its supervisory board. She has been on the university’s council since 2005 and received the Bavarian Order of Merit in 2007 37.
Family
Her father, Herbert Quandt, died in 1982 and her mother, Johanna Quandt, in 2015. Her brother is Stefan Quandt, and she has three children 34. See Susanne Klatten’s family.
Susanne Klatten net worth
Forbes put her at $25.57 billion in September 2026, about ₹2.4 lakh crore at ₹94 to the dollar, and 79th on its 2026 world list 12. See Susanne Klatten net worth and our ranking of the top 50 richest people in the world.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Susanne Klatten?
A German industrialist who holds about 20% of BMW and controls the investment company SKion, which owns Altana.
What is Susanne Klatten's net worth?
$25.57 billion on Forbes’ real-time list on 10 September 2026, fourth in Germany.