What to do with an immense fortune? Martin Haefner found the answer.Image: watson/dr
Martin Haefner and his wife Marianne have created a foundation to ensure the future of his wealth of money and here is what it will be used for.
08.01.2025, 10:1808.01.2025, 10:20
Martin Haefner is one of the 300 richest people in Switzerland, with a fortune estimated between five and six billion Swiss francs, estimates Balance sheet. Much of this wealth is invested in holdings and various companies, especially Amag, the Swiss automobile import giant based in the canton of Zug. Since buying out his sister Eva Maria’s shares a few years ago, Martin Haefner has been the sole owner of this company, founded by his father Walter.
In addition, it also holds significant shares in companies such as Swiss Steel, Autoneum, Rieter, and the ecological company Climeworks, specializing in carbon dioxide capture. In short, the gentleman is heavy, but above all, he is getting old.
Aged 70 and without children, he had to clarify his inheritance: where will his billions go? He and his wife Marianne established the Martin+Marianne Haefner charitable foundation, based in Zurich.
“Ultimately, the foundation will hold all the stakes in the companies”
Aloys Hirzel, porte-parole du couple
Great, but what for?
An ambitious philanthropic mission
The foundation’s funds will be dedicated to supporting institutions, projects and personalities in four priority areas:
- Science and technology.
- The fight against extreme poverty.
- Culture.
- Biodiversity of flora and fauna.
The first two axes – science and technology as well as the fight against poverty – will benefit from particular attention, as will the promotion of women.
When is it?
However, this will only be the case when neither spouse is alive. Martin Haefner and his wife have already made significant donations in the past. Some of their notable contributions include:
- 20 million francs for the new pediatric hospital in Zurich.
- 40 million francs for the ETH Foundation
- 1 million francs via Amag for the victims of the tsunami.
According to the Commercial Register, the foundation was established in mid-December last year. It is chaired by the chairman of the board of directors of Flughafen Zürich, Josef Felder, who has been a member of the board of directors of Amag for years, of which he is vice-chairman.
(jah with ats and ch-media)
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