Shipping Tycoon Kuehne, Germany’s Richest Person, Dies at 89

By Tara Patel

Aug 24, 2026 (Bloomberg) –Klaus-Michael Kuehne, the shipping heir and Germany’s wealthiest individual, who expanded Kuehne + Nagel International AG into one of the world’s biggest sea and air freight forwarders, has died. He was 89.

His death, in Schindellegi, Switzerland, was confirmed by the company in a statement on Monday. Under his leadership, Kuehne + Nagel grew over decades into a global transport behemoth with more than 1,300 offices worldwide and a staff of 88,000.

“With the passing of Klaus-Michael, we have lost a visionary, a great entrepreneur and an extraordinary personality,” Kuehne + Nagel Chairman Joerg