Early Life
Murat Ülker was born in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 21, 1959. He is the son of Sabri Ülker, the founder of Ülker Holding. He attended İstanbul Erkek Lisesi and graduated from Boğaziçi University with a degree in business administration. He furthered his education with studies at the American Institute of Baking (AIB) and the Zentralfachschule der Deutschen Süßwarenwirtschaft (ZDS) and trained at the Continental Baking Company in the United States.
Rise to Success
Ülker began his career at Ülker Group, part of Yıldız Holding, in 1984 as a control coordinator. He rose through the ranks, becoming assistant general manager and later general manager. In 2000, he became the CEO of Yıldız Holding and then became its chairman in 2008. Under his leadership, Yıldız Holding made significant acquisitions, including Godiva Chocolatier in 2008 and United Biscuits in 2014. In 2016, Yıldız formed a new global business, pladis, by combining Ülker, United Biscuits, and DeMet's Candy Company. He was named the richest businessman in Turkey in 2018. As of April 2025, he is the richest person in Turkey.
Key Business Strategies
Murat Ülker has focused on strategic acquisitions and diversification, expanding Yıldız Holding's global footprint. Key moves include acquiring Godiva and United Biscuits. He emphasized a collaborative leadership style and focused on sustainability and corporate social responsibility. Under his leadership, the company has expanded into new markets. In 2020, he handed over the chairmanship of Yildiz to his nephew Ali Ulker.
Philanthropy
The Ülker family established the Sabri Ülker Foundation in 2009, focusing on public health related to food and nutrition. In 2014, they contributed $24 million to Harvard University to establish The Sabri Ülker Center for Nutrient, Genetic, and Metabolic Research.
