Rudolf August Oetker's Success Story

Executive Director of Oetker Group

"Quality is the best recipe", Oetker Group

Rudolf August Oetker was a very successful German entrepreneur, often called the pudding king, who became a billionaire running his private food company Oetker-Gruppe. Born in the culture center Bielefeld, Rudolf graduated in Hamburg with a banking degree. An interesting fact is that during World War II he served in the Waffen-SS. After it ended in 1944, he inherited from his grandfather August Oetker their family food business due to his murder during an air raid on Bielefeld in 1944.

At this time the company has selled all sorts of baking products as well as frozen pizza, beer and champagne, but was most famous for August’s biggest invention – the ready-to-use baking powder that was storable and didn't change the taste of baked goods. Rudolf August Oetker elevated the company to a household name not only in Germany, but in the whole world. He was also the man, who diversified the family food business into shipping, banking and hotels.

After being nearly forty years at the helm of the company, Oetker retired as executive director in 1981. He turned the position over to his son August Oetker, who still runs the group.

Since 1963 Rudolf was married for his third wife Maja von Malaisй; he has total 8 children from his three marriages. He died as the 61st richest man in the world on 16. Januar 2007 from pneumonia. Today Rudolf’s family’ wealth has been calculated to over 4,35 billion euros. Beside their food business, they also own five five-star hotels, a grocery chain, a publishing company, insurance groups and a maritime freight business.