Georg F. W. Schaeffler Net Worth

Georg F. W. Schaeffler has an estimated net worth of $15.1 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Georg F. W. Schaeffler profile (figures as of October 20, 2026). That is up from $13.4 billion in 2019.

Georg F. W. Schaeffler is a German businessman tied to the Schaeffler Group, a major maker of ball bearings and machine components in the automotive industry. He owns 80% of Schaeffler Group, while his mother, Maria-Elisabeth, owns 20%. He is head of the supervisory board of Schaeffler Group and also serves on the supervisory board of Continental AG. Before taking a bigger role in the family business, he practiced international business law in Dallas.

His wealth comes from inherited ownership and from major deals that expanded the company. He worked within Schaeffler Group from 1990 to 1996, and the business later grew through acquisitions including LuK GmbH in 1999 and FAG Kugelfischer in 2002. In 2008, Schaeffler Group acquired Continental AG in a $15-billion debt-financed deal. In 2009, he joined his mother in leading the business after she had been running it following his father's death.

How Georg F. W. Schaeffler built his fortune

Schaeffler's fortune is tied to auto parts. His family controls Schaeffler Group, which is known for ball bearings, rolling element bearings, and machine components. He owns 80% of the company, with his mother holding the other 20%. The business traces back to a firm founded in 1946 by Wilhelm Schaeffler and his brother. Schaeffler inherited his stake and later took a central role in the company as chairman of its supervisory board.

The company's expansion helped shape his wealth. Schaeffler took over LuK GmbH in 1999 and FAG Kugelfischer in 2002, adding scale in automotive parts and bearings. The biggest move came in 2008, when Schaeffler Group bought Continental AG in a $15-billion deal financed with debt. Forbes says the family's combined 46% stake in Continental accounts for most of their wealth. Schaeffler also sits on Continental AG's supervisory board.

What changed Forbes' estimate

Forbes has tracked large swings in Schaeffler's fortune over the years. Its estimate was $13.4 billion in 2019, fell to $6.3 billion in 2020, rose to $14.9 billion in 2021, then moved to $8.1 billion in 2022. Forbes later put him at $10.2 billion in 2023, $10.9 billion in 2024, and $10.6 billion in 2025. Those changes line up with how much of his wealth is tied to company stakes, especially Continental.

Forbes says the 2008 Continental takeover once looked risky after the financial crisis, but the picture changed as the auto market rebounded and Continental's share price climbed. That helps explain why his wealth can move sharply from year to year. Forbes' real-time tracker listed him at $15.1 billion as of October 20, 2026, after the 2026 Forbes World's Billionaires List estimated his fortune at $19.2 billion.