Billionaire Profile
K
Global Rank
#2337

Image: P. den Hengst en Zoon [etc.] | Public domain | via Wikimedia Commons

Kai-Uwe Hollweg

CEO, Plumbing and heating supplies
GERMANY
Real-Time Net Worth
$1.777B
Estimated based on Plumbing and heating supplies stock value as of April 20, 2026
0% (24h)
Age
59
Source
Plumbing and heating supplies
Industry
Manufacturing
Citizenship
GERMANY

Biography

Kai-Uwe Hollweg, a prominent figure in the plumbing and heating supplies industry, currently serves as the chair of the advisory board for Cordes & Graefe, the parent company of the GC Group. With an estimated net worth of $1.8 billion, Hollweg's wealth stems from his successful career in manufacturing. His career has been marked by significant achievements in the wholesale distribution of products for plumbing, HVAC systems, and related sectors. Residing in Bremen, Germany, he has built a reputation as a key leader within his industry.

Fact Checked
Verified by Editorial Team
Live Data
Updated 4/20/2026

Wealth Over Time

In-Depth Profile

Early Life

Information on Kai-Uwe Hollweg's early life is limited in the search results. However, his current position suggests a strong foundation in the plumbing and heating supplies sector.

Rise to Success

Kai-Uwe Hollweg's rise to prominence is closely tied to his role at Cordes & Graefe, and the GC Group, a major wholesaler in the industry. He chairs the advisory board, and previously held a position in the management. The GC Group formed in 1975, and is now one of the largest wholesalers in the industry, with $15.5 billion in sales in 2022.

Key Business Strategies

While specific business strategies are not detailed in the search results, his role at Cordes & Graefe indicates a focus on wholesale distribution, the three-stage distribution model.

Philanthropy

Kai-Uwe Hollweg and his wife, Karin, founded the Karin and Uwe Hollweg Foundation in 1996. The foundation promotes art and culture through the support of non-profit organizations. The foundation also maintains a collection of art from the 20th and 21st centuries.

Career Milestones

2016

Joined the Beirat

Kai-Uwe Hollweg transitioned from the management to the advisory board (Beirat) of Cordes & Graefe.

2019

Chairman of the Advisory Board

Kai-Uwe Hollweg became the Chairman of the Advisory Board of Cordes & Graefe, succeeding Heinz Wippich.

Philanthropy & Social Impact

Arts and Culture

Karin and Uwe Hollweg Foundation

$XB

The foundation supports non-profit organizations in art, culture, and monument preservation.

Business Philosophy & Leadership

Notable Quotes

""The opportunities of the three-stage distribution channel, especially in times of digitalization, to intelligently utilize them together with skilled trades, is an exciting challenge and a great incentive.”"