The wealthiest Swiss banking families saw their fortunes bounce back in the first year after the pandemic, according to an annual ranking of Switzerland's rich.
The Safra family which controls private bank J. Safra Sarasin is Switzerland's wealthiest banking dynasty, according to an annual rich list compiled by «Bilanz» (in German). The outlet estimates the Syrian-Brazilian clan's fortune, which also includes Chiquita, the banana distributor, and major real estate like London's «Gherkin», at up to 23 billion Swiss francs ($25 billion).
The second-richest, by some distance, is Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein, whose family controls LGT. «Bilanz» estimates the family's wealth at up to 10 billion francs. They are followed by Prakash Hinduja, an Indian tycoon whose fortune is valued at up to 6 billion francs.
The wealth of BZ Bank founder and owner of Helvetic Airlines, Martin Ebner (pictured below), is estimated at up to 3.5 billion francs. The wealthy Greek Latsis family, which controls EFG International, is worth roughly the same, according to «Bilanz».
Old-Money From Private Banking
They are followed by a coterie of prominent banking families including Ariane de Rothschild (Edmond de Rothschild), dePicciotto (Union Bancaire Privée) and Vontobel and de la Cour (Vontobel). The descendants of Genevan wealth manager Lombard Odier disappeared from the list; last year, the clan's wealth was listed at up to 3.5 billion francs.
The Cornaros, who control Cornèr Bank, the family of Eric Syz (Syz Group, pictured below) and the Baer families (Julius Baer, MBaer) also rank among Switzerland's 300 richest. Other private bankers including the Syz-Abegg fammily (Maerki Baumann), André Bodmer (Rahn + Bodmer), the Reichmuths, and banker-politico Thomas Matter, who owns a stake in Helvetische Bank.
Crypto Pirate Joins Bankers
Boris Collardi is one of the newest entrants to the list, with an estimated 150 million francs in wealth. Bitcoin Suisse co-founder Niklas Nikolajsen (pictured below) is another, with an estimated 350 million franc fortune – though he is not strictly a banker.
Ex-UBS bosses Sergio Ermotti and Oswald Gruebel are estimated to be worth up to 200 million francs and 150 million francs, respectively. Ex-Deutsche Bank boss Josef Ackermann's fortune is worth an estimated 150 million francs.
The 300 richest Swiss are estimated to be worth 821.8 billion by the Swiss outlet – this represents a 16 percent gain on the year, and the strongest advance since «Bilanz» began compiling the list in 1989.
