Mark Mateschitz: Red Bull heir is world's 37th richest person

Europe’s richest millennial: Red Bull heir Mark Mateschitz, 30, who inherited his father Didi’s energy drink empire last year is the officially the 37th richest person in the world

• Mark Mateschitz enters the Forbes rich list in 37th place, the highest new entry
• He inherited a 49 percent stake in his father’s Red Bull energy drink empire 

The son of late Austrian billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz, who cofounded energy drink firm Red Bull in 1987, has joined the Forbes world rich list for the first time.

As his father’s only son, 30-year-old Mark Mateschitz inherited a 49 percent stake in the energy drink giant in October 2022 when the elder Mateschitz passed away.

Forbes says that this puts the net worth of one of Europe’s newest billionaires at $34.7 billion, making him the world’s 37th richest person.

Forbes released its annual and highly anticipated Billionaires 2023 list this week, with Bernard Arnault – who oversees the LVMH fashion empire – coming in the number one spot, above the likes of Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates.

But Mateschitz was by far the highest newest entrant on the list, having inherited his father’s share in Red Bull, earning him the title of Europe’s richest millennial.

As his father’s only son, 30-year-old Mark Mateschitz (pictured) inherited a 49 percent stake in the energy drink giant Red Bull in October 2022 when Dietrich Mateschitz passed away

Dietrich Mateschitz, known as ‘Didi’, was most recently estimated by Forbes to have a net worth of around £14 billion.

READ MORE: Louis Vuitton boss Bernard Arnault becomes richest man in the world worth $211BN as number of billionaires drops but they’re still worth $12.2trillion 

In addition to his father’s wealth, reports have said Mark also inherited a number of luxury properties, from a Fijian island to Austrian castles, and an estate in London’s exclusive Knightsbridge.

He already owned his own beverage company – Thalheimer Heilwasser – for almost four years, which sources water from Austrian springs for its drinks.

As an only child, Mark studied business at the University of Applied Sciences Salzburg, and was exposed to his father’s business activities at a young age.

Despite his privileged upbringing, reports have said he is down-to-earth, and understands well the business that he has inherited on account of working in senior positions at Red Bull in the years before his father’s death.

When he inherited his father’s empire, he also stepped down from his role as the head of Red Bull’s organic division to concentrate on his role as a shareholder.

As a result of his riches, he is said to be one of Europe’s most eligible bachelors, and last month was reported to be dating Victoria Swarovski – an heiress to the multi-billion dollar Swarovski crystal empire – after she split from her husband.

Ms Swarovski announced she was separating from her husband Werner Muerz, 46.

Austrian media reported that Mateschitz and Swarovski were spotted together at the Hahnenkamm Races, hosted at the Kitzbuehel ski resort.

Neither of them have publicly confirmed or denied the rumours of a romance.

Dietrich Mateschitz, known as ‘Didi’, was most recently estimated by Forbes to have a net worth of around £14 billion. His son already had his own business interests

Didi Mateschitz, became known later in his life for his love of motorsports, extreme sports and football, passed away in October after a battle with illness.

The entrepreneur was introduced to the drink that would become known globally as Red Bull while on a business trip to Thailand in the 1980s.

Didi, who had been working as a marketing executive for German firm Blendax, was impressed with a drink called Krating Daeng that helped him with his jet lag.

It had been developed a decade before by duck farmer turned pharmacist Chaleo Yoovidhya, and Mr Mateschitz was reportedly so impressed with it he struck a deal to promote it abroad. 

The company carbonated it and with its promise that it would ‘give you wings’, it proved hugely successful after its launch as Red Bull in 1987 and kick started the energy drinks market, Forbes reports.

Mr Mateschitz took a 49 per cent stake in the company, and the partnership made both men and their families extremely wealthy – in 2020 Mr Yoovidhya’s family received £184million in dividends, while the Austrian received £299million.

As his extraordinary wealth grew over the years Mr Mateschitz used his company to invest in extreme sports, Formula 1 and to buy several football teams.

Mr Mateschitz combined the company with his passion for motorsport and other sports as it became the sponsor of many different teams across the world.

The company bought the Red Bull Formula One racing team in 2005, as well as the New York Red Bulls – a Major League soccer team in the United States, Red Bull Salzburg – an Austrian football team, and RB Leipzig in Germany.

According to the 2023 Forbes Billionaire list, the number of billionaires in the world has dropped to 2,640 this year, but the richest people are still worth $12.2 trillion.

Frenchman Bernard Arnault dethroned former number one on Elon Musk. 

As a result of his riches, Mateschitz is said to be one of Europe’s most eligible bachelors, and last month was reported to be dating Victoria Swarovski (pictured) – an heiress to the multi-billion dollar Swarovski crystal empire – after she split from her husband.

Musk, 51, is now just the second richest billionaire in the world, falling to Arnault, 74 the chairman of French luxury goods giant LVMH — which owns brands like Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and Tiffany & Co.

The two had been trading places on the outlet’s daily Real-Time Billionaires list over the past few months, but Arnault superseded the Tesla billionaire after his net worth grew more than $50billion to $211billion.

The number of billionaires in the world has dropped to 2,640 this year, but the richest people are still worth $12.2 trillion according to Forbes Billionaires 2023.

Elsewhere on the top ten list are the likes of Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett, 92, Microsoft Founder Bill Gates, 67 and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, 59.

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