World's youngest billionaire is from Bavaria - Germany

Last week Forbes published their 2007 list of the world's billionaires. Same as last year, they give the youngest as Albert II, Prince of Thurn and Taxis. The 23 year old has a net worth of $2.0 billion. Being the only son of his late father, Johannes, he is sole heir to the family fortune.

The Thurn and Taxis family are well known as owners of breweries and builders of countless castles. The family home is a 500-room castle in Regensburg, Bavaria. Prince Albert himself is currently at Edinburgh University where he is studying economics and theology.

According to an article in Bild Zeitung (so it must be true) the prince is currently single. See: Ein Milliardär zum Verlieben. They don't mention the status of his sisters Elisabeth (24) and Maria (26) however.

They say money doesn't make you happy, but he looks pretty pleased with himself in every photo I've seen.

He's so cute he makes me happy.

I'm a little surprised about this, actually; apparently the family hit upon hard times a decade ago or so when one of them died, revealing very large debts. But I guess they had enough money stashed away; their dynasty goes back centuries. They did, however, sell their brewery - the Turn und Taxis Brauerei - to Paulaner of Munich in 1996. Paulaner was in turn bought up by Brau (Heineken) in 2003. According to the Good Beer Guide Germany, "It's widely assumed that Thurn und Taxis beers also originate here [Paulaner in Munich] but we think they may well be brewed elsewhere". But no longer in Regensburg.

The money wasn't stashed away - Gloria von Thurn & Taxis turned out to be quite the financial manager instead, taking the time to learn business law and economics.

The family owns Europe's largest privately-owned forest and she chose to sell off the family silver and underperforming business interests as her son could "always go out and buy another tureen but not another forest."
Well-chosen real estate has also added to the family's wealth.

Following her punk princess days (complete with Warhol painting), she became quite the conservative with her investments, lifestyle and strong Catholicism.
And apart from the "Der Schwarze schnackselt gern" bit years back, she's been a smart cookie. And her son looks just so much like her too.

Or as I like to say, money can't buy happiness but poverty can't buy anything.

I can only imagine the amount of 'ginas' tossed his way without him even trying.

so the family fortune was cleverly salvaged by the shrewd investments of a woman but it all goes to the son and not the daughters...why doesn't that surprise me...

Is that Ant or is it Dec? I always get those two muddled up.

This thread should be retitled: "World's youngest billionaire is a douche"

What a douche.

I just gotta mention that their family home is certainly not a castle. It is quite the impressive palace, though.

Cos he looks like Justin Timberlake?

If so I applaud your reasoning.

Worth a shag whilst you're waiting for the night bus I 'spose.
Wonder if he's gonna turn out a racist conservative like his bloody mother?

Cos she's successful and not a bleedin' waster?

If so at least your reasoning is consistent.

Let them share the same fate as the Romanovs.

Followed by a revolution?