RICH WOMEN OF GERMANY

RICH WOMEN OF GERMANY.

The stereotype of financially conservative Germans having an aversion to leverage doesn’t apply to Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler-Thumann and her only son, Georg Schaeffler. They’re proprietors of Schaeffler Group, which encompasses Schaeffler AG, one of the world’s largest producers of ball bearings and machine components. In 2008, the company announced a $15-billion, debt-financed takeover of publicly traded tire and auto parts giant Continental AG. Marie-Elisabeth is a member of Continental’s supervisory board and vice chair of Schaeffler’s supervisory board



                Kerry A. Dolan   Forbes Staff Leadership








Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler
Net worth: $6.6 billion
Age: 73
Source Of Wealth: Ball bearings
Residence: Herzogenaurach, Germany
Citizenship: Germany
Marital Status: Widowed