Erich von Baumbach
Source of wealth: Pharma
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The scale of their wealth
Health
The price of life
Let's compare Erich von Baumbach's fortune with the healthcare spending of a massive country
Erich von Baumbach could fund the entire healthcare system of DR Congo, with a population of over 105,800,000 people, for approximately 2.9 years.
But even if we compare their fortune with that of a rich country
On the other end, Erich von Baumbach could cover the healthcare spending of Luxembourg, considered the most heavily funded healthcare system in the world, for 1.3 years.
Education
Buying the future
Let's also compare their fortune with education spending, first with a poor country
Erich von Baumbach could cover the total cost of Nigeria's education system, the most populous country in Africa with over 243,000,000 inhabitants, for 1.9 years.
And yes, we can also compare it with a rich country
But they couldn't just cover the cost of a poor country; Luxembourg is considered the country with the highest per capita investment in education in the world, and Erich von Baumbach could pay for it entirely for 2.6 years.
Research
The monopoly on progress
Coming full circle, we think it's also interesting to add another gigantic country
Erich von Baumbach could fully fund the state research budget of Pakistan, the fifth most populous country in the world with over 260,000,000 inhabitants, for 11.0 years.
And of course, the country that invests the most per capita worldwide
But even if we compare the total wealth of Erich von Baumbach with Israel, the country that invests the most per capita in research in the world, they could cover the total cost of the system for 0.2 years.
Gold
Everyday luxuries
Erich von Baumbach's fortune is equivalent to 45 tons of gold. It's hard to process, since we don't usually keep a handful of gold bars in our piggy banks.
A standard gold ring usually weighs between 4 and 7 grams. Let's say this one weighs 5 grams. It's usually 18 karats.
Based on today's gold price (excluding the jeweler's commission, shipping, or anything else), that ring would be worth $546.86.
Erich von Baumbach could buy 11,946,302 gold rings. That's a lot of fingers and way too many gifts!!
And if you're struggling to visualize that many rings, it would take 2 trucks to transport them. Although Erich von Baumbach will almost certainly have enough money left over to pay for the gas.
Biography
Erich von Baumbach derives his wealth from Germany's Boehringer Ingelheim, the world's largest privately-owned pharmaceutical company.
An heir to the fortune, he traces his lineage to the company's founder Albert Boehringer, who founded the company in 1885.
After purchasing a tartar factory, Boehringer employed 28 people, who produced ingredients for pharmacies, textile merchants and the food industry.
In 1917 the company opened a research department with chemist Heinrich Wieland, Boehringer's cousin, who would go on to win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Today some of Boehringer Ingelheim's most well-known drugs treat COPD, anti-coagulation and type 2 diabetes.
Erich along with 14 members of the family own equal parts of the company.
Financial Assets
Financial assets information not available.
Monthly wealth history
Fortune comparison
Historical data not available for comparison