Thiele heirs pay 4 billion euros in inheritance tax to Bavaria!

Thiele heirs pay 4 billion euros in inheritance tax to Bavaria!

The descendants of the late industrialist Heinz Hermann Thiele have transferred a record amount of inheritance tax to the Free State of Bavaria. With a total payment of 4 billion euros to the Kaufbeuren tax office, they represent the highest inheritance tax in the history of the Federal Republic. This comes after the entrepreneur's sudden death in February 2021, which triggered a bitter dispute within the family.

Heinz Hermann Thiele, who was considered one of the richest people in Germany and played a key role as the majority shareholder in Knorr-Bremse, was also the main shareholder in Vossloh as well as a major shareholder in Lufthansa and a real estate investor. His fortune is estimated at around 15 billion euros. The 4 billion euros that have now been transferred were already mentioned in the tax estimate in May.

Inheritance disputes and family foundations

The payment was processed by the Heinz Hermann Thiele Family Foundation, which was intended to be founded during Thiele's lifetime but was not officially recognized until 2023. This circumstance contributed significantly to the high inheritance tax. The exact distribution of the inheritance remains unconfirmed due to the state financial equalization, but it is clear that according to the will, the widow Nadia Thiele was only considered as a pre-heir and should inherit around one billion euros in the form of real estate.

The son Hendrik Thiele sought a board position at Knorr-Bremse in 2015, but broke off contact with his father and waived his compulsory share. The daughter Julia Thiele-Schürhoff is on the supervisory board and board of the family foundation. The executor Robin Brühmüller, who was involved in legal disputes with Nadia Thiele, was supposed to receive a three-digit million sum as a fee, which led to controversy.

Bavaria's budget plans

Claudia Köhler from the state parliament Greens is now calling for the income from the inheritance tax to be used for investments in communities in need. With a total volume of 76 billion euros, the Bavarian budget has a significant item, and the 4 billion euros is a significant source of income. Köhler proposes a second supplementary budget to provide targeted support to communities in financial difficulties.

The legacy of Heinz Hermann Thiele and the associated tax burden not only raise questions about the correct handling of such large amounts of money, but also shed light on the explosiveness of family conflicts in times of great wealth. The developments surrounding the family foundation and the inheritance will certainly continue to be in the public eye in the coming months.