From Judge to Millionaire: The Surprising Journey of Germany's Wealthiest Chancellor, Friedrich Merz!
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Stars (2 / 1) 17.06.2025 14:13 von Angela Symbolbild imago
A Fortune in the Millions - and a Private Plane
Estimates put his fortune at around 12 million euros. Shares in the Swiss train manufacturer Stadler Rail alone are said to be worth around 5.5 million euros, according to media reports - provided he still holds them. Real estate also belongs to his portfolio: A single-family house in Niedereimer in the Sauerland region and an inherited villa on Lake Tegernsee, described as simple and down-to-earth. Moreover, Merz is the first Federal Chancellor with a pilot's license - and his own plane. His DA62 aircraft from the Austrian manufacturer Diamond Aircraft has five seats and costs around one million euros. According to research by the "taz", Merz used the plane regularly until 2022 - mainly for the route from Arnsberg-Menden to Berlin-Schönhagen.
Political Comeback Despite Salary Cuts
Financially, the Chancellor's Office is not a promotion. While he earned millions as a business lawyer and manager, his annual salary as Chancellor is about 374,000 euros gross, supplemented by a reduced parliamentary compensation. For comparison: the CEO of Deutsche Bahn, Richard Lutz, received around 2.1 million euros last year, DAX board members an average of 6.3 million. Merz's return to politics was hardly financially motivated. Rather, he repeatedly emphasizes his values: diligence, discipline, decency, and respect - virtues that were instilled in him by his parents. Now he is at the head of the government - with economic independence, political ambition, and a biography that is unparalleled in German politics.