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Billionaire Profile
Andreas Struengmann & family
Global Rank
#277

Image: Public domain | via Wikimedia Commons

Andreas Struengmann & family

CEO, STADA Arzneimittel AG
DE
Real-Time Net Worth
$10.71B
As of December 2025
Age
75
Source
Pharmaceuticals
Industry
healthcare
Citizenship
DE

Biography

Andreas Strüngmann is a German businessman and entrepreneur, renowned for his significant contributions to the pharmaceutical industry. Born in 1950, he co-founded Hexal AG with his brother Thomas in 1986. Under his leadership, Hexal became a leading generic drug manufacturer. After selling Hexal to Novartis, Andreas joined Sandoz, the generics division of Novartis. His achievements include building Hexal into Germany's second-largest generic drug producer and successfully selling Hexal AG for $7.5 billion. Andreas is also an early investor in BioNTech, contributing to the development of the COVID-19 vaccine. With his family, he invests in biotech, pharma, and healthcare through their investment firm, Santo Holding. His current net worth is $10.71 billion, reflecting his continued success in the healthcare industry.

Wealth Over Time

In-Depth Profile

Early Life

Andreas Strüngmann was born in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany, in 1950. While details of his early life are not widely available, he earned a Medical Doctor degree from the University at Buffalo. He also practiced medicine, spending some time in Africa. Andreas and his identical twin brother, Thomas, joined their father’s pharmaceutical company, Durachemie, in 1979, gaining valuable industry experience.

Rise to Success

In 1986, Andreas and Thomas Strüngmann co-founded Hexal AG, a generic drug manufacturer. Andreas's leadership helped Hexal grow rapidly, becoming Germany's second-largest generic drug producer. In 2005, the brothers sold Hexal and their stake in U.S.-based Eon Labs to Novartis for $7.5 billion, a pivotal moment in their wealth accumulation. Following the sale, Andreas took an executive position at Sandoz, the generics division of Novartis.

Key Business Strategies

Andreas Strüngmann's success stems from strategic investments in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. Through Santo Holding, their Zug, Switzerland-based investment firm, they invest in biotech, pharma, life sciences, and healthcare companies. A key strategy was their early backing of BioNTech, which partnered with Pfizer to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. This investment significantly increased their wealth. Their family office, Athos Service, manages these investments.

Philanthropy

Andreas and his brother established the Ernst Strüngmann Institute in Frankfurt, a neuroscience research center. They also founded the Andreas and Susan Struengmann Foundation in 2007 to support educational initiatives in the Western Cape.

Career Milestones

1986

Founded Hexal AG

Co-founded Hexal AG, a generic drug manufacturer, which became Germany's second-largest generic drug producer.

2005

Sold Hexal AG

Sold Hexal AG and their stake in U.S.-based Eon Labs to Novartis for $7.5 billion.

2006

Joined Sandoz

Joined Sandoz, the generics division of Novartis, in an executive position.

2008

Early Investment in BioNTech

Made an early investment in BioNTech, contributing to the development of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Philanthropy & Social Impact

Education

Andreas and Susan Struengmann Foundation

Undisclosed

Supports educational initiatives in the Western Cape.

Research

Ernst Strüngmann Institute

Undisclosed

Established a neuroscience research center in Frankfurt.