Ralph Dommermuth

Ralph Dommermuth
Born 1963 (age 54–55)
Residence Montabaur, Germany
Nationality German
Occupation Chairman and CEO, United Internet
Net worth $5.2 billion (July 2018)[1]
Spouse(s) Judith Berger
Children 1 (from an earlier marriage)

Ralph Dommermuth (born 1963) is a German businessman, the founder, chairman and CEO of United Internet.

Career

Dommermuth was born in 1963 and raised as the son of a realtor in Montabaur, Germany. He has one brother. After initial training at the Deutsche Bank, he started to work as sales freelancer for a local PC dealer in his hometown Montabaur in 1983.[2]

In 1988, Dommermuth founded the 1&1 EDV Marketing GmbH together with a business partner. The first business idea was called "Software Börse", a marketing tool for software companies. For this product the company won the German direct marketing price in 1989.[3] The Company also organized special exhibitions at the CEBIT in Hannover, such as the "Software-Zentrum Mittelstand" and "Software for Europe."[4][5] In 1992, his company 1&1 was commissioned by Deutsche Telekom to sell Bildschirmtext-access-points and later T-Online accounts.[3]

After the initial success as a marketing service provider Dommermuth converted 1&1 into an internet service provider, beginning in 1996.[6] In March 1998, the company had its IPO as the first German Internet company.[7] Due to the capital increase carried out in this context, 1&1 had opportunity to participate in other IT companies such as GMX and Schlund + Partner AG. At the height of the internet boom in the early 2000s, 1&1 Holding held shares in 17 internet companies and Dommermuth renamed the company to United Internet.[8]

Dommermuth owns 40% of United Internet, the Germany-headquartered broadband provider, which manages the 1&1, GMX and Web.de brands, with 2015 turnover of Euro 3.7 billion, and 48 million customers in 11 countries.[9]

Dommermuth is Germany's sole Internet billionaire, and the country's youngest self-made billionaire.[10]

Donations

In 2017, when federal elections took place in Germany, the largest donation to a political party was provided by Dommermuth, Euro 500,000 Euro to the CDU, Germany's former conservative party.[11]

Personal life

Dommermuth has a child from an earlier marriage.[12] He is married to Judith Berger, a model, and they live in Montabaur.[12][13]

References

  1. ↑ "Forbes profile: Ralph Dommermuth". Forbes. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  2. ↑ Heuzeroth, Thomas (2005-10-29). "Mr. Internet wohnt in Montabaur". DIE WELT. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
  3. 1 2 "Ralph Dommermuth - Hall of Fame - computerwoche.de". www.computerwoche.de (in German). Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  4. ↑ "Mehr als 130 Aussteller machen mit: CeBIT '92: SW-Anbieter zeigen "Software in Europa " - computerwoche.de". www.computerwoche.de (in German). Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  5. ↑ "Werber im Netz". finanzen.net (in German). Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  6. ↑ Milosevic, Redaktion connect, Josefine. "Firmenportrait 1&1 - connect". connect (in German). Retrieved 2018-07-03.
  7. ↑ "1&1 geht an die Börse - computerwoche.de". www.computerwoche.de (in German). Retrieved 2018-07-03.
  8. ↑ Online, FOCUS. "Aufbauen und loslassen". FOCUS Online (in German). Retrieved 2018-07-03.
  9. ↑ "Bloomberg Billionaires Index - Ralph Dommermuth". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  10. ↑ "Porträt: Ralph Dommermuth - Mister Internet und Milliardär aus dem Westerwald". computerwoche.de. 2014-08-18. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  11. ↑ tagesschau.de. "CDU und FDP erhielten 2017 die höchsten Großspenden". tagesschau.de. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  12. 1 2 "Bloomberg Billionaires Index - Ralph Dommermuth". Retrieved 25 March 2018 – via www.bloomberg.com.
  13. ↑ "United-Internet-Chef Ralph Dommermut: Wer ist der "deutsche Bill Gates"? - Rheinland-Pfalz - SWR Aktuell". Retrieved 29 June 2018.


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