German billionaire August von Finck Jr. is the victim of a multi-million dollar theft in Uruguay.
Some 17 gold bars and 1,000 Krugerrand gold coins with a total value of $2.5 million were stolen from the German businessman’s bedroom, according to «El País» (behind paywall, in Spanish).
The theft in Uruguay happened in two stages: the burglars first entered the property at the beginning of June. Equipped with tools, they managed to open the safe but then left the tools in the bedroom. It wasn’t until their return a month later that they seized the $2.5 million fortune, according to the report.
Traceless Loot
The heist recently became public after an intense investigation in which Uruguayan authorities arrested 11 people, who were subsequently convicted. The stolen goods however, have disappeared, the newspaper reported.
Owner of Mövenpick Hotels
The 91-year-old August von Finck Jr., who owns Weinfelden Castle in the canton of Thurgau, inherited a billion-dollar fortune from his father, which he invested in various companies as well as in precious metals. He has been a prominent figure in the Swiss business world with holdings in Swiss companies such as SGS, Lonza and Oerlikon.
He currently owns the Mövenpick hotel group. He is also known for his pronounced political conservatism and his support of right-wing populist circles. The U.S. business magazine «Forbes» last estimated his wealth at $8.7 billion.
