Karl Wlaschek

{{Infobox person

| image = Karl Wlaschek.jpg

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| name = Karl Wlaschek

| caption = Bust in the entrance of Palais Kinsky

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| birth_date = {{Birth date|1917|8|4|df=y}}

| birth_place = Vienna, Austria

| death_date = {{death date and age|2015|5|31|1917|8|4|df=yes}}

| death_place = Graz, Austria

| education =

| alma mater =

| occupation = Founder, Billa

| spouse =

| parents =

| children = 2

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Karl Wlaschek (4 August 1917 – 31 May 2015) was the founder of the Austrian supermarket chain Billa. According to the magazine Trend, Wlaschek was one of the five richest Austrians. In 1996 he sold Billa for Euro 1.1 billion.{{cite web|url=http://derstandard.at/2000016755783/Unternehmer-Karl-Wlaschek-ist-tot|title=Unternehmer Karl Wlaschek ist tot|author=Renate Graber und Claudia Ruff|work=derStandard.at}}

Early life

Wlaschek studied chemistry at TU Wien until he was he was conscripted in 1938, serving in France and the Soviet Union.{{cite web |url=https://www.munzinger.de/register/portrait/biographien/wlaschek%20karl/00/26259 |title=Karl Wlaschek |publisher=munziger.de |access-date=10 December 2024}} After World War II, he worked as a bar pianist and bandleader under the pseudonym "Charly Walker". He wanted to open his own dance cafe, but at the time did not have the financial means to do so.{{cite web |url=https://www.trend.at/personen/karl-wlaschek-erben |title=Österreichs Reichste: Billa-Gründer Karl Wlaschek und seine Erben |author=Peter Sempelmann |date=6 July 2023 |publisher=trend.at |access-date=10 December 2024}}

Career

In 1953, Karl Wlaschek opened a perfumery in the Margareten district of Vienna and offered brand-name products at discount prices. Warenhandel Karl Wlaschek (WKW) grew steadily and by 1960 already comprised 45 branches in Austria. Wlaschek transferred the concept to the grocery business, introduced the self-service system and named his stores BILLA (for "Billiger Laden" – "Cheap Shop") in 1961.

In the 1990s, the company expanded abroad as Eurobilla. In 1996, Wlaschek sold the group to the German REWE Group for EUR 1.1 billion.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/18/business/international-briefs-rewe-of-germany-buys-austrian-grocery-chain.html |title=International Briefs; Rewe of Germany Buys Austrian Grocery Chain |date=18 July 1996 |publisher=nytimes.com |access-date=12 December 2024}} The merger was notified to the European Commission in July 1996 and approved in August.{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/decisions/m803_de.pdf |title=Merger Decision IV/M.803 |date=27 August 1996 |publisher=ec.europa.eu |access-date=12 December 2024}}

After failing to get in on the privatization of Creditanstalt (then the second largest bank in Austria), Wlaschek began investing his wealth in real estate.{{cite web |url=https://www.derstandard.at/story/289428/karl-wlaschek-und-sein-wirtschaftsimperium |title=Karl Wlaschek und sein Wirtschaftsimperium |date=4 August 2000 |publisher=standard.at |access-date=16 December 2024}} He owned eight palaces in the center of Vienna (including Kinsky, Ferstel, and Harrach), but also the Andromeda Tower and the Ares Tower (both part of Donau City), the former building of the Vienna Stock Exchange, and numerous other buildings in the city center.

In 2015, Forbes estimated his fortune at USD 4.2 billion.

Personal life

He lived in Vienna with his fifth wife, whom he had married in 2012.{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/luisakroll/2015/06/01/austrian-billionaire-former-jazz-pianist-karl-wlaschek-dies-at-age-97/ |title=Austrian Billionaire, Former Jazz Pianist, Karl Wlaschek Dies At Age 97 |author=Luisa Kroll |date=1 June 2015 |publisher=forbes.com |access-date=12 December 2024}} He had two children.{{cite web|title=Karl Wlaschek|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/karl-wlaschek/|website=Forbes|accessdate=17 January 2015}}

In November 2005, Adolf Haslinger, former rector of the University of Salzburg and a long-standing friend of Wlaschek, published an authorized biography.{{cite web |url=https://wiev1.orf.at/stories/211468 |title=Billa-Gründer Karl Wlaschek ist 90 Jahre |date=13 August 2007 |publisher=orf.at |access-date=21 December 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.derstandard.at/story/2238596/ein-buch-statt-vieler-interviews |title=Ein Buch statt vieler Interviews |date=11 November 2005 |publisher=derstandard.at |access-date=21 December 2024}}

Awards and honors

1989: Golden Decoration of Honor for Services to the State of Vienna{{cite web |url=https://presse.wien.gv.at/1989/09/01/goldenes-ehrenzeichen-fuer-karl-wlaschek |title=Goldenes Ehrenzeichen für Karl Wlaschek |date=1 September 1989 |publisher= parlament.gv.at |access-date=2 January 2025}}
1993: Grand Decoration of Honor in Gold for Services to the Republic of Austria{{cite web |url=https://www.parlament.gv.at/dokument/XXIV/AB/10542/imfname_251156.pdf |title=Aufstellung aller durch den Bundespräsidenten verliehenen Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich ab 1952 |publisher=parlament.gv.at |access-date=2 January 2025}}
1997: trend magazine’s "Man of the Year" Award
2004: Gold Medal of Honor of the City of Vienna {{cite web |url=https://presse.wien.gv.at/2004/04/13/ehrenmedaille-in-gold-fuer-karl-wlaschek |title=Ehrenmedaille in Gold für Karl Wlaschek |publisher=wien.gv.at |access-date=2 January 2025}}
2008: Grand Decoration of Honor in Silver with Star for Services to the Republic of Austria

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20070929124522/http://windu.t-online.at/10/bios/main.php?id=405&neueinstieg=1 Kurzbiografie]

Category:Businesspeople from Vienna

Category:Austrian billionaires

Category:1917 births

Category:2015 deaths