Billionaire Profile

Global Rank

#439

Image: Public domain | via Wikimedia Commons

Thomas Schmidheiny

CEO, Holcim

Real-Time Net Worth

$8B

As of December 2025

Age

Source

Cement

Industry

construction-engineering

Citizenship

Biography

Thomas Schmidheiny, born in Switzerland, is a prominent billionaire businessman with a net worth of $8.0 billion as of 2024. His wealth stems primarily from the cement and building materials giant Holcim, where he served as chairman. Schmidheiny's career has been marked by significant contributions to the construction industry and a commitment to innovation and sustainability. He holds advanced degrees from Tufts University and ETH Zurich, and has diversified his interests into viticulture, owning vineyards and wineries across multiple countries. Schmidheiny is known for his strategic vision and leadership in expanding Holcim into a global leader.

Wealth Over Time

Portfolio Holdings

Holcim

HOLN•construction-engineering

In-Depth Profile

Early Life

Thomas Schmidheiny was born on December 17, 1945, in Switzerland, into a family with a long-standing history in the construction materials industry. His father, Max Schmidheiny, played a key role in the family business. Thomas inherited Holcim, a cement and concrete company, after the family's construction materials empire was divided in 1984.

Rise to Success

Schmidheiny's career took off when he became the chairman of Holcim, a leading cement manufacturer, in 1978. Under his leadership, Holcim experienced significant growth and expanded into international markets, becoming a global leader in the construction materials industry. He stepped down as chairman in 2003 but remained on the board until 2018. He is currently the largest shareholder of Lafarge-Holcim, retaining a 11.4% stake after the merger of Holcim and Lafarge.

Key Business Strategies

Schmidheiny's business strategies included strategic acquisitions, modernization of production processes, and a strong emphasis on sustainability. His vision transformed Holcim into a global titan, making it a market leader in cement production in several countries.

Philanthropy

Beyond his business achievements, Schmidheiny is also involved in philanthropic endeavors and supports sustainability initiatives.

Career Milestones

1970

Technical Director

Began his career as Technical Director with Cementos Apasco.

1976

Executive Committee

Joined the Executive Committee of Holcim.

1978

Chairman

Became Chairman of Holcim.

2003

Resigned as Chairman

Resigned as chairman of Holcim but remained on the board.

2018

Left the Board

Left the Board of Directors of Holcim

Philanthropy & Social Impact

Education

Thomas Schmidheiny chair of family business

Undisclosed

The Indian School of Business has a Thomas Schmidheiny chair of family business.

Controversies & Challenges

2003

Insider Trading Investigation

Resigned as chairman of Holcim due to an insider trading investigation in Spain but remained on the board.