Famous Austrian Business People

Ferdinand Porsche was an Austrian-German automotive engineer. He is credited with founding one of the most popular car companies in the world, Porsche AG. He is also credited with creating the Lohner-Porsche mixed hybrid, the first gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle. During World War II, Porsche was a prominent contributor to the German war effort.

German-Austrian actress, author, and businesswoman Christine Kaufmann gained attention of post-war German movie audiences with her performances in films like Rosen-Resli, Der schweigende Engel and Ein Herz schlägt für Erika. She became the first German to be honoured with Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress for her performance in the drama film Town Without Pity.

Remembered widely as the grandson of Porsche founder Ferdinand Porsche, Ferdinand Piech later joined Audi. He is also known for converting Volkswagen from a loss-making firm to one of the world leaders in the global automobile scene. He had apparently fathered 12 children with several women.

The founder of the German engineering and technological MNC Bosch, Robert Bosch was born to a farmer in a south Germany village. He is also remembered as one of the first Germans to introduce 8-hour work days. He also invented the high-voltage spark plug and magneto for automobiles.

Friedrich Mandl, also known as Fritz Mandl, was an armament magnate and a prominent supporter of Austrian nationalism and fascism. Of the five women he was married to in his lifetime, one was actor Hedy Lamarr, who later described him as a controlling man from whom she had to escape in disguise.

Frank Stronach grew up in Austria during World War II and later moved to Canada. The Magna International founder is also an award-winning thoroughbred horse racer and has a keen interest in football. He has also had short stint in Austrian politics and had established the now defunct Team Stronach for Austria.

The daughter of a pipe manufacturer, Emilie Louise Flöge initially worked as a seamstress but later found her calling in fashion designing. Also remembered as the companion of Austrian symbolist painter Gustav Klimt, she featured in many of his paintings and was a major figure of the Fin de siècle movement.

The daughter of Porsche founder Ferdinand Porsche, Louise Piech went down in history as the woman who had saved the family brand from being confiscated by enemy forces during the War. she and her brother, Ferry Porsche, set up Porsche Konstruktionen GesmbH, declaring themselves as directors.

An heir of the Swarovski crystal company, Nadja Swarovski has been behind a major repositioning of the Swarovski brand. She not only introduced initiatives such as the Swarovski Emerging Talent Awards but has also launched the Atelier Swarovski line. She has also been associated with the Waterschool conservation project.

German philanthropist and businessman Maurice de Hirsch was born into an affluent family of bankers and was later associated with Bischoffsheim & Goldschmidt. He is remembered for his remarkable charitable contribution to various educational initiatives and for the settlement of Jewish refugees, the most notable being the fund for Russian Jews.

Renowned Australian business magnate Peter Abeles went from being a refugee at a Nazi camp to a transportation pioneer. One of his initial jobs was that of a door-to-door salesman, and a push from a friend led him to start dealing in transport contracts. He eventually led the company TNT-Alltrans.

Austrian-Hungarian banker Albert Salomon Anselm von Rothschild was part of the famous Rothschild banking family. He didn’t just bring in important monetary reforms in Austria but also established himself as a chess player and patron, who even sponsored various chess tournaments. An asteroid was named in his memory.

An heir to the Austrian glassmaking company Riedel Crystal, Claus Josef Riedel had introduced many innovations in the glassmaking industry. He brought in the world’s first gourmet glasses and also introduced a full range of wine glasses for different types of wine. He had also won several awards for his innovations