Gourt Home::Gourt :: Dietrich Mateschitz
Dietrich Mateschitz (born May 20, 1944 in St. Marein im Mürztal, Styria) is an Austrian businessman and billionaire. He holds 49 percent of shares in the energy drink producer Red Bull.
Impressive results for any go-getter, but even Mateschitz would admit he didn't exactly grab his Red Bull fortune by the horns. Raised by two primary-school-teacher parents who separated when he was very young, the convivial Mateschitz took ten years to get through college. "Life as a student is enjoyable," he mused, during a rare interview at Hangar-7. After graduating with a marketing degree from the University of Commerce in Vienna at the age of 28, Mateschitz worked various marketing jobs, including stints at Unilever and Germany's Jacobs Coffee. In 1979 he became the international marketing director for Germany's Blendax (later acquired by Procter & Gamble), where he pushed products like toothpaste, skin creams and shampoo.
After graduating from the Hochschule für Welthandel (now Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration), Dietrich Mateschitz worked, among other things, for the marketing of Procter & Gamble's Blendax tooth paste. In 1987, he founded Red Bull GmbH with his Thai partners Chaleo and Chalerm Yoovidhya. Subsequently, he turned the Red Bull drink into the world market leader among energy drinks. Beside the crystal group Swarovski, the candy producer Manner, and the lingerie company Palmers, Red Bull is Austria's only consumer brand with a worldwide reputation.
Dietrich Mateschitz had traveled to Thailand and saw that the rickshaw drivers drank a substance to keep them energized throughout the day. After some alterations to the recipe, and a flavor modification for the public, Red Bull was born. He adapted it from the Thai beverage Krating Daeng (กระทิงแดง), which translates into the English language as Red Bull. In 1984 he approached the local firm TC Pharmaceuticals to license it. They agreed, and took a 51% stake in his firm, Red Bull GmbH. The architecturally spectacular headquarters are located in Fuschl am See.
Mateschitz is known as a marketing specialist. His company is famous for its creative advertising and as a sponsor for many types of extreme sports. In 2004, Mateschitz bought the Formula 1 team Jaguar Racing from the Ford Motor Company. It was subsequently renamed to Red Bull Racing.
Mateschitz plans to set up a testing site for the automobile industry at the A1-Ring. There are already very far developed plans, but residents of the area object. He also plans to create an Avionautik Akademie in Zeltweg jointly with the Austrian Army. A very fit-looking 60-year-old bachelor, he has his own hangar, where he keeps his collection of old planes, including a DC-6 which once belonged to Marshal Tito. He also sponsors the World Stunt Awards, an annual fundraiser to benefit his Taurus Foundation, which helps injured stunt professionals.
In April 2005 he bought the Austrian soccer club SV Austria Salzburg and in March 2006 he bought the American soccer club MetroStars; both clubs were subsequently (and somewhat controversially) renamed for his famous drink, as Red Bull Salzburg and Red Bull New York, respectively.
Mateschitz has supported F1 through his Sauber sponsorship for a long time. No-one would want to see him lose a ton of money by employing the wrong people. Richards has a successful track record in F1, Purnell does not.
Mateschitz typifies a new class of billionaires who got rich not by inventing a new product but by selling an ordinary one inventively. Donald Trump gets a premium for his Manhattan apartments because he has propagated the notion that a Trump building is superior to comparable property across the street. Sidney Frank made millions selling Grey Goose vodka, nearly indistinguishable from bottom-shelf brands, at a rich price.
See also
External links
1944 births | Living people | Austrian businesspeople | Beverage magnates | Formula One people
"Dietrich Mateschitz"