Meet the Albrechts, the highly secretive heirs to the Aldi fortune, who are worth $38.8 billion, own Trader Joe's, and have kept a famously low profile for decades
In 1913, the Albrecht family opened a corner grocery store in Essen, Germany. After World War II, brothers Karl and Theo took over the business in 1946, opening dozens of stores and renamed it Aldi — short for Albrecht Discount.
In 1960, Karl and Theo, after a disagreement about whether to sell cigarettes, split Aldi in half: Aldi Süd and Aldi Nord. Karl would operate stores in southwest Germany, the U.S., U.K., Australia and Eastern Europe, while Theo took the northern part of West Germany, western and southern Europe.
Source: Bloomberg, The New York Times
Eleven years later, in 1971, Theo was kidnapped and released after being held for 17 days. The Albrecht family paid over $2 million for his return.
Source: The Chicago Tribune, The Local, Bloomberg
The kidnapping rattled the family, and afterward, Theo led an increasingly private life. He did, however, apply for tax relief from the ransom payment as a business expense.
The kidnappers were eventually caught, but half of the ransom was never recovered. Albrecht would travel to work in an armored car after the incident, using a different route every day.
Source: The Chicago Tribune, The Guardian
Little to nothing is known about Theo and his brother, Karl. They never granted interviews or made public statements about their wealth or businesses. Theo, however, was known to collect wild orchids and golf frequently.
Source: The Guardian
The Albrechts had "fortress-like" homes along the hillsides near the Ruhr Valley in Essen.
Source: The New York Times
Karl Albrecht was also a big fan of golf, too. He built Der Öschberghof, an 18-hole golf course in the southwestern region of Germany near the Black Forest in the 1970s.
Today, a night's stay at the resort will cost at least $400.
Source: The New York Times
Aldi only offers a select number of private-label brands, and according to The New York Times, products would often be displayed "on wooden pallets in the cardboard boxes in which they were delivered."
Source: The New York Times
This type of discounted goods store flourished in West Germany as the country attempted to crawl out of economic ruin following the war.
Source: The Guardian
Because of its below-average price model, Aldi markets were able to dominate in Germany.
Source: The New York Times
As Aldi supermarkets spread across Europe, it became impossible for other would-be competitors like Walmart to even get a foothold in the region.
Source: The New York Times
In 1979, an Albrecht family trust bought specialty store Trader Joe's. However, the company remains mum on who actually owns it, refusing to comment on the Albrecht family whenever asked.
Source: The Chicago Tribune
Albrecht grew Trader Joe's into a nationwide chain and low-cost grocery staple with nearly 500 stores today in the US and $13 billion in annual revenue.
Source: The Chicago Tribune, Forbes, Aldi
In 2010, Theo Albrecht died at 88, leaving Aldi Nord to his two sons, Berthold and Theo Jr. Albrecht's net worth was $16.7 billion at the time of his death.
Theo's biggest contribution to the Aldi empire was his frugality. He was known to use pencils down to their stubs, wore cheap suits, and never allowed the stores to divulge in fancy decor.
Albrecht's Aldi Nord division did not give a cause of death in a released statement in 2010. He was survived by his two sons, Berthold and Theo Jr.
Berthold died two years after his father.
Source: Bloomberg, Forbes, The Guardian
Karl Albrecht, once the richest man in Germany with a personal net worth of $26 billion, died on July 16, 2014 at 94.
"Karl Albrecht wanted no public attention and always turned down any honours, leading a secluded life. He was fair and dependable entrepreneur and a man who lived by his Christian values," the company said in a statement in 2014.
Albrecht himself was last quoted in 1953.
Albrecht was married for 67 years, his wife dying a year before him.
Source: The Local, The New York Times
Theo Jr. went on to break the Albrechts decade-long silence to call out his sister-in-law Babette, who went against the family rules by spending millions on vintage cars and art after the death of her husband, Berthold.
Theo Jr. told the press in 2016: “The name Albrecht requires a modest lifestyle."
Source: The New Daily, Bloomberg
In 2016, Berthold's will came into the spotlight for excluding Babette and children from control of Aldi Nord — worth over $22 billion. She fought her late husband's decision in court, saying he was not competent enough to make a will because of an "alcohol-related illness."
Source: The Irish Times
Babette and her children, who have never been publicly named, get over $36 million a year from the family trust after Theo Jr. offered to end the public dispute.
Source: Bloomberg
Albrecht's son and daughter, Karl Jr. and Beate, inherited half of the Aldi fortune after his death and sit on the company's board. Karl Jr. has no children, while his sister has six. Both continue in their father's tradition of being notoriously reclusive.
Karl Jr., 71, and Beate, 66, have never spoken to the press, and it remains unknown who will take over Aldi Sud once they retire.
Source: Bloomberg
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