Early Life
Jurgen Wirtgen inherited his wealth, along with his brother Stefan, from his father, Reinhard Wirtgen. Reinhard founded the Wirtgen Group in 1961, which became a major player in the construction machinery sector. The family's roots are firmly in Germany, where the Wirtgen Group was established.
Rise to Success
The Wirtgen Group grew into an international company specializing in road construction and maintenance machinery, manufacturing products for road construction and surface mining. The company's core business revolved around developing and producing machinery for road construction and maintenance. A key milestone was the sale of the Wirtgen Group to John Deere in 2017 for $5.2 billion. Following this, Jurgen and his brother established Wirtgen Invest, a family office managing various investments, including energy, real estate, healthcare, consumer goods, and finance.
Key Business Strategies
The Wirtgen Group's success was built on innovation, expanding its product range, and adapting to changing market demands. The company expanded its product portfolio to include cold milling machines, recyclers, soil stabilizers, and more. The Wirtgen Group also focused on global expansion with production facilities in multiple countries. After the sale, Wirtgen Invest adopted a strategy of diversified investments to maintain and grow its wealth.
Philanthropy
Jurgen Wirtgen and his brother, through the Jurgen Wirtgen Stiftung and the Stefan Wirtgen Stiftung, have been involved in local and regional projects in Germany since 2020. These foundations support initiatives in areas like poverty reduction, emergency aid, education, and sports.