Billionaire Profile
Gabriele Gebauer
Global Rank
#1532

Image: 4028mdk09 | CC BY-SA 3.0 | via Wikimedia Commons

Gabriele Gebauer

CEO, textile
GERMANY
Real-Time Net Worth
$2.692B
Estimated based on textile stock value as of March 6, 2026
0% (24h)
Age
84
Source
textile
Industry
Manufacturing
Citizenship
GERMANY

Biography

Gabriele Gebauer, born in 1941, is a German billionaire businesswoman. Her wealth stems from her ownership of Mewa, a leading textile services company. Gebauer took over the reins of Mewa, founded by her grandmother in 1908, and successfully ran the company until 2014. Under her leadership, Mewa expanded its operations across Europe, providing workwear, protective clothing, and cleaning services. Gebauer's career highlights her commitment to the textile industry, with Mewa employing around 6,000 people across 48 locations. Her estimated net worth is $2.8 billion.

Fact Checked
Verified by Editorial Team
Live Data
Updated 3/6/2026

Wealth Over Time

In-Depth Profile

Early Life

Gabriele Gebauer was born in 1941. Her family's entrepreneurial spirit and interest in textiles provided the foundation for her future success. The family business, Mewa, was established by her grandmother in 1908 as a textile cleaning service.

Rise to Success

Gabriele Gebauer took over Mewa and led it until 2014. Under her direction, Mewa grew into a major player in the European textile services market, serving over 80,000 clients and employing thousands. Mewa provides workwear, protective clothing, and cleaning services.

Key Business Strategies

Gebauer's business strategy centered around providing high-quality textile services and ensuring customer satisfaction. She focused on the consistent delivery of clean textiles and workwear to businesses across Europe. This customer-centric approach was key to Mewa's expansion and sustained success.

Philanthropy

Information on Gabriele Gebauer's specific philanthropic activities and amounts is unavailable through a Google Search.

Career Milestones

1979

Took over MEWA

Gabriele Gebauer, the granddaughter of the founder, took over the leadership of MEWA.

2014

Retired from MEWA

Stepped down from running MEWA, transitioning to the supervisory board.

Philanthropy & Social Impact

Unknown

Unknown

Undisclosed

Details not available