Is it true that a German billionaire recently committed suicide?

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frackledJJ

I don't know whether he grew up during the third reich, since I have no idea how old he was. That was not mentioned in the articles, or I might have overread it, but considering the name, I would say it is possible. The first name "Adolf" was quite a popular name before one of those people named that way decided to create what we know know as the third reich and all that went with it. Thank God that is over. Ever since than, the first name "Adolf" is extremely unpopular in Germany. In fact, I don't know anyone in my or my parents generation named that way.

It is true, though. Adolf Merckle killed himself, but not because he was broke (he lost, or so it is said, 1/9th of his fortune) but because of the shame. He has always been praised as one of the best businessmen in Germany, and now he was supposed to step out in public and announce that he had miscalculated and needed to sell at least one of his companies, probably even the biggest and most popular, "ratiopharm", a VERY well know medical company producing and dealing with generica (= copies of medications whose original producers patent time has run out = no money needed to invest in finding new formulas = able to sell the same medication at a cheaper price than the original producer, who has to get all of that invested money back out of the market). Actually, with the whole change in the health system catering to them, companies producing generica are/were supposed to be the big moneymakers. And he has to sell his? Pretty embarrassing.

But back to your question: Yes, sadly he saw no other way than to kill himself, and he did that by lying down in front of a train. Like others have said: I feel sorry for the train driver. He did definitely not deserve having to go through all of this.

Dislexia Wulf

yes

~T!ff@Ny~

He was known as the penny pinching millionaire. Despite his reluctancy to spend money he donated to good causes to support a leukaemia charity, and he personally footed the bill for office parties.

"Crumpling under debt, written-down assets, the impatience of the banks and Merckleā€™s stock exchange gambling, Ratiopharm was going to be the price of survival. His suicide note read simply: ā€I am sorry.ā€¯

Zoe Dot

Yes, he was called Adolf Merckle and was the third richest person in Germany. He lost a lot of money due to the current economic crisis. Of course, he was still a billionaire and still one of the top 100 richest people in the world according to Forbes magazine.

He apparently lay down on the train tracks near his home and waited for a train to come and flatten him. His body needed to be identified via DNA tests it was so badly damaged. I feel sorry for the people who had to go and clean it up.

He must have had severe mental illness, because why would someone kill himself like this and just lie down in defeat in front of a train?

tarvau

He did not loose a lot of money because of the current financial crisis but because of failed speculation on the VW stock. His empire could easily be rescued only he could not stand the shame.
I feel sorry for the train driver and all the people who run late because of the accident.

Mr. Daaannyy!

umm, Adolf Hitler committed suicide in 1945, thats not recently.

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