Billionaire Profile
U
Global Rank
#1356

Image: Schweizerischer Ingenieur- und Architekten-Verein. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n84158693 http://viaf.org/viaf/133537854 Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich. Gesellschaft Ehemaliger Studierender des Eidgenössischen Polytechnikums | Public domain | via Wikimedia Commons

Urs Wietlisbach

CEO, Private equity
SWITZERLAND
Real-Time Net Worth
$3.058B
Estimated based on Private equity stock value as of March 6, 2026
-0.71% (24h)
Age
64
Source
Private equity
Industry
Finance & Investments
Citizenship
SWITZERLAND

Biography

Urs Wietlisbach, born on August 25, 1961, is a prominent Swiss investor and businessman. He is best known as the co-founder of Partners Group, a leading private equity firm with over $131 billion in assets under management. Wietlisbach's career began at Credit Suisse and later at Goldman Sachs, where he established the firm's sales department in Switzerland. His wealth source is primarily from private equity. Beyond his business ventures, Wietlisbach is actively involved in philanthropy, notably through The Ursimone Wietlisbach Foundation, focusing on health, human development, and active living. He champions investments in companies aligned with future trends such as decarbonization and automation.

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

Wealth Over Time

In-Depth Profile

Early Life

Urs Wietlisbach was born on August 25, 1961, in Switzerland. He earned a master's degree in business administration from the University of St. Gallen.

Rise to Success

Wietlisbach began his career at Credit Suisse and later joined Goldman Sachs as a broker, where he established the firm's sales department in Switzerland. In 1996, he co-founded Partners Group with Marcel Erni and Alfred Gantner. The trio took their firm public a decade later. Wietlisbach currently owns roughly 5% of the company's stock. In 2015, Wietlisbach co-founded Blue Earth Capital, a global impact investment firm.

Key Business Strategies

Partners Group focuses on proactive deal sourcing and thematic research to identify promising investment opportunities. Wietlisbach emphasizes a team-oriented approach, where different teams share the carry from deals. He believes in an active approach to investment and views private markets as the new traditional asset class.

Philanthropy

Urs Wietlisbach and his wife signed The Giving Pledge in 2022, committing to donate a majority of their wealth to philanthropy. The Ursimone Wietlisbach Foundation, established in 2021, focuses on long-term investments in health, human development, and active living, primarily in Switzerland and selected low- and middle-income countries. He is also a member of the board of trustees of Blue Earth Foundation.

Career Milestones

1996

Co-founded Partners Group

Co-founded Partners Group, a Swiss private equity firm.

2015

Co-founded Blue Earth Capital

Co-founded Blue Earth Capital, a global impact investment firm.

2020

Reduced Shareholding

Reduced his shareholding in Partners Group to 5.01%.

2021

Established the Ursimone Wietlisbach Foundation

Established the Ursimone Wietlisbach Foundation with a focus on long-term investments and partnerships.

2022

Signed The Giving Pledge

Committed the majority of his wealth to philanthropy.

Philanthropy & Social Impact

Health and Human Development

Ursimone Wietlisbach Foundation

Unknown

Focuses on health, human development, and active living.

Impact Investing

Blue Earth Foundation

Unknown

Focuses on impact investing.

Business Philosophy & Leadership

Notable Quotes

"Good companies go private because it's much more efficient to run a company and not-so-good companies, loss-making companies, go to the market.”"

"We are entrepreneurs. We want real assets. So we went into private Equity."

Leadership Principles

Proactive Deal Sourcing

Actively seeking out investment opportunities rather than waiting for them to arise.

Teamwork and Shared Carry

Emphasizing collaboration and incentivizing teams through shared financial rewards.

Focus on Long-Term Investments

Prioritizing investments that provide long-term value and impact.

Curiosity and Continuous Learning

Encouraging a culture of inquiry and constant learning to stay ahead of industry trends.