Michael Pieper’s net worth over time
Only dates with a published estimate are shown. Nothing is filled in between. Tap or hover a bar to see the source.
See the numbers as a table
| Date | Estimate | Source |
| 2019 | $3.3 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019 |
| 2020 | $2.6 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2020 |
| 2021 | $4.7 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2021 |
| 2022 | $5.1 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2022 |
| 2023 | $5.4 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2023 |
| 2024 | $4.8 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2024 |
| 2025 | $4.8 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2025 |
| 2026 | $5.1 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2026 |
| Oct 2026 | $4.5 billion | Forbes Real-Time Billionaires · Forbes real-time estimate |
Where the money comes from
These are the main sources of wealth named in the reporting we cite. No published source breaks the total into exact amounts, so we do not show percentages.
Michael Pieper’s fortune in real-life terms
Based on the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires estimate above. Median full-time U.S. pay is $65,416 a year ($1,258 a week, BLS, Q2 2026), before taxes. Typical (median) U.S. family net worth is $216,100 (Federal Reserve, 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances).
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Michael Pieper has an estimated net worth of $4.5 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Michael Pieper profile (figures as of October 20, 2026). That is up from $3.3 billion in 2019.
Michael Pieper is a Swiss business owner best known for Artemis Group and its control of Franke, a manufacturer of kitchen equipment. Franke traces its roots to 1911 in Rorschach, Switzerland, and Pieper's father bought it in 1975. Pieper took over in 1989. He later expanded the business into eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. He also studied economics at the University of St. Gallen and went on to build his career in manufacturing and industrial investing.
His wealth is tied mainly to Franke and the wider Artemis portfolio. Franke makes kitchen sinks and other industrial-grade kitchen equipment, and it also supplies products for kitchens, hygiene and coffee preparation. Artemis owns a stake in Feintool, plus Swiss real estate and teak plantations in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Pieper also serves on company boards, including Forbo and Autoneum. Forbes put his net worth at $4.5 billion on its real-time tracker on October 20, 2026.
How Michael Pieper built his wealth
Pieper's money comes mainly from Artemis Group, where he is the sole shareholder and has served as CEO. The holding company controls Franke, a Switzerland-based manufacturer known for kitchen sinks and other industrial-grade kitchen equipment. After taking over in 1989, he pushed the company beyond its home market and into eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. That long expansion turned a family-owned industrial business into the center of his fortune.
Artemis is broader than Franke alone. The group also owns a stake in precision cutting technology company Feintool, along with Swiss real estate and teak plantations in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Pieper stepped down as CEO of the Franke Group in 2012, but the business stayed a major part of the Artemis portfolio. He also sits on the boards of Forbo and Autoneum, showing how much of his career has stayed tied to manufacturing and industrial companies.
What Forbes shows about his fortune
Forbes has tracked big swings in Pieper's wealth over time. It estimated his fortune at $3.3 billion in 2019, then $2.6 billion in 2020. By 2023, Forbes had raised that figure to $5.4 billion. Those changes line up with the fact that his wealth is concentrated in Artemis assets, especially Franke, while the group also holds industrial stakes, real estate and plantation investments that can move in value from year to year.
The latest Forbes snapshot shows a lower level than that 2023 peak. Forbes ranked him at $5.1 billion on the 2026 World's Billionaires list, and later showed $4.5 billion on its real-time tracker in October 2026. Even with those changes, the picture is consistent: his money is still rooted in the same industrial base. Franke remains the core asset, supported by Feintool, Swiss property and the teak plantation holdings in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
Career and money timeline
- 1911
Franke was founded in Rorschach, Switzerland.
- 1975
Pieper's father, Will, acquired Franke.
- 1989
Michael Pieper took over and began expanding Franke internationally.
- 2012
He stepped down as CEO of the Franke Group.
- 2019
He joined Wingman Ventures with a high single-digit million investment.
- 2020
He acquired a 10% stake in Tomorrowlabs GmbH.
Michael Pieper net worth FAQ
What is Michael Pieper's net worth?
Michael Pieper's net worth is an estimated $4.5 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Michael Pieper profile (October 20, 2026). It is an estimate, not an official figure.
How did Michael Pieper get so rich?
The main sources named in the reporting we cite are: Kitchen appliances.
Is Michael Pieper a billionaire?
Yes. Forbes Real-Time Billionaires estimates Michael Pieper is worth $4.5 billion.
How has Michael Pieper's net worth changed?
The earliest published estimate we track is $3.3 billion (2019, Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019). The latest is $4.5 billion (October 20, 2026).
What company is Michael Pieper best known for?
He is best known for Artemis Group and its control of Franke, the kitchen equipment manufacturer.
What other assets are part of his business empire?
Artemis also holds a stake in Feintool, Swiss real estate, and teak plantations in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
Sources
- Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Michael Pieper profile (October 20, 2026)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019, Michael Pieper profile (March 5, 2019)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2020, Michael Pieper profile (April 7, 2020)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2021, Michael Pieper profile (April 6, 2021)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2022, Michael Pieper profile (April 5, 2022)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2023, Michael Pieper profile (April 4, 2023)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2024, Michael Pieper profile (April 2, 2024)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2025, Michael Pieper profile (April 2025)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2026, Michael Pieper profile (March 10, 2026)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Usual Weekly Earnings (Q2 2026) (July 2026)
- Federal Reserve, 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances (median family net worth, Table 4) (October 2026)
- Background facts: Wikipedia, Michael Pieper (accessed October 24, 2026). Used for career facts only, never for figures.
Every number on this page is an estimate published by the source named next to it. We never fill in years with our own guesses. How we handle estimates.