Georg von Opel
{{Short description|Swiss billionaire}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Georg von Opel
| image = Diana20Siegerehrung5.jpg
| caption = von Opel and wife Emily in 2020
| birth_name = Georg von Opel
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|05|04}}
| birth_place = Kronberg im Taunus, West Germany
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = German
| citizenship = Switzerland
| education = University of Rhode Island
American InterContinental University
| occupation = Investor
| known for =
| spouse = Emily Bond
| children = 5
| relatives = Adam Opel (great-grandfather)
| website =
}}
Georg von Opel (born 4 May 1966) is a German-born Swiss billionaire and heir, great-grandson of Adam Opel who founded the German car manufacturer Opel AG.
Early life and education
Von Opel was born on 4 May 1966 in Kronberg im Taunus, West Germany to Georg Friedrich Karl Adam von Opel, who was the son of Carl von Opel, and grandson of Adam Opel, and his third wife Ingrid (née Revers; b. 1945). Since 1973, his family had been a resident of Switzerland and von Opel naturalized in 2014.{{Cite web |title=Georg von Opel: Mann mit einem guten Riecher |url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/management/georg-von-opel-mann-mit-einem-guten-riecher/2829702.html |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=www.handelsblatt.com |language=de}}
He studied economics and business administration at the University of Rhode Island and the American InterContinental University, London.{{cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/A1unvc6ZcUphzeQfYoHlKjeRfX8/appointments |title=Georg VON OPEL - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House) |publisher=Beta.companieshouse.gov.uk |date=2014-02-17 |accessdate=2017-05-03}}{{cite web|author=Stocks |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=23503060&privcapId=20375553 |title=Stocks |publisher=Bloomberg |date= |accessdate=2017-05-03}}
Career
In April 2015, the Sunday Times Rich List estimated his net worth at GBP £1.3 billion.{{cite news|title=Sunday Times Rich List|work=The Sunday Times|issue=31|date=26 April 2014}} According to the Sunday Times Rich List, this had increased to £1.654 billion in 2020.{{Cite news|last=Times|first=The Sunday|title=Rich List 2020: profiles 51-100, featuring Bernie Ecclestone|newspaper=The Times |language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/rich-list-2020-profiles-51-100-featuring-bernie-ecclestone-wmnjxggkw|access-date=2020-07-20|issn=0140-0460}} His wealth primarily comes from Hansa AG, a holding company that invests in listed equities and private-equity funds. von Opel's real estate portfolio includes properties in the south of England, Majorca and the Engadin region in the Swiss Alps.{{Cite web|title=Georg von Opel|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/georg-von-opel/|access-date=2020-07-20|website=Forbes|language=en}}
Donations
von Opel is a major donor to the UK's Conservative Party.{{Cite news|last1=Leigh|first1=David|last2=Ball|first2=James|last3=Garside|first3=Juliette|last4=Pegg|first4=David|date=2015-02-11|title=HSBC files show Tories raised over £5m from HSBC Swiss account holders|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/feb/11/hsbc-files-show-tories-raised-over-5m-from-hsbc-swiss-account-holders}} Through his foundation, the Georg and Emily von Opel Foundation, he has financially supported Oxford professor Sunetra Gupta who has argued against societal restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic and was one of the authors of the Great Barrington Declaration.{{Cite web|date=9 April 2021|title=Tory billionaire bankrolled 'herd immunity' scientist who advised PM against lockdown|url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/dark-money-investigations/tory-billionaire-bankrolled-herd-immunity-scientist-who-advised-pm-against-lockdown/|access-date=2021-09-19|website=openDemocracy.net|language=en}}
Personal life
Opel and his British-born wife, the former professional tennis player Emily Bond, have five children, and live in London, England.{{cite web|title=Forbes profile:Georg von Opel|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/georg-von-opel/|website=Forbes|accessdate=8 January 2019}} Opel was born a German citizen, became a Swiss resident in 1973, and a Swiss citizen in 2014.
References
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{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Opel, Georg von}}
Category:German emigrants to Switzerland
Category:German corporate directors
Category:Conservative Party (UK) donors