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Albert Von Thurn und TaxisGerman aristocrat and billionaire
Date of Birth: 24.06.1983
Country:  Germany |
Content:
- Biography of Albert von Thurn und Taxis
- Education and Interests
- Family Background
- Wealth and Holdings
- Recognition and Affiliations
Biography of Albert von Thurn und Taxis
Albert Maria Lamoral Miguel Johannes Gabriel, the 12th Prince of Thurn and Taxis, is a German aristocrat and billionaire. He was born on June 24, 1983, in Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany.
Education and Interests
Albert completed his schooling in Rome and then served in the army before attending the University of Edinburgh, where he studied economics and theology. He has a passion for car racing and achieved notable success as the vice champion in the 2007-2008 German GT Championship ADAC GT Masters and as the champion in 2010. He was a member of the 'Reiter Engineering' team.
Family Background
Albert comes from the noble German Thurn und Taxis family which traces its origins back to Franz von Taxis, the founder of the first regular postal service between Vienna and other European cities in 1490. The position of the postmaster of the Holy Roman Empire became hereditary, and in 1695, Albert's distant ancestor, Eugen Alexander von Taxis, was granted the title of imperial prince by the emperor.
Wealth and Holdings
Today, the Thurn und Taxis family owns vast estates, numerous breweries, banks, and other companies, as well as several castles. With 36,000 hectares of land, Albert is the largest private landowner in Germany, and his ownership of 28,000 hectares of forests makes him the largest forest owner in Europe.
Recognition and Affiliations
In 2008, Albert was ranked 11th on Forbes' list of the twenty hottest representatives of royal dynasties. Although German authorities do not recognize titles since they were abolished in 1919, aristocratic families typically incorporate their titles into their surnames. Through Portuguese monarch Miguel I, who ruled from 1828 to 1834, Albert is related to all ruling families in Europe, including the United Kingdom.
As the head of the House of Thurn und Taxis, Albert is the Grand Master of the Order of Parfaite Amitié, established in 1704 by the 3rd Prince of Thurn und Taxis.
