Dieter Schwarz
Retail · Neckarsulm
Net worth
$61.8B
Today
+$365+0.00%Past month
+$5.7B+10.09%As of Nov 11, 2026, 1:50 PM EST
Dieter Schwarz owns Schwarz Group, a German discount grocery retailer with revenue of more than $200 billion. Schwarz inherited the company from his father, Josef, who became a partner in Suedfruechte Grosshandel Lidl & Co., a fruit wholesaler, in 1930. Dieter opened the first Lidl store in 1973, became CEO in 1977 when Josef died, and built Schwarz Group into Europe's largest retail empire, with 500,000 employees. Lidl entered the U.S. in 2017, promising to convince consumers to "Rethink Grocery." Its stores are mostly in Virginia and North and South Carolina. Schwarz Group is owned by a foundation, technically a limited liability company, but Dieter maintains full control and is the effective owner.
Net worth over time
Principal holdings
1 positions| Company | Industry | Share | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
Private holdings | Fashion & Retail | 100.0% | $61.8B |
Also known for
- The Dieter Schwarz Foundation supports education and daycare facilities for children, as well as science and research projects.
- A decidedly private person who shuns all publicity, Schwarz has been married for more than 50 years and has two daughters.