Dietrich Mateschitz is dead
Red Bull founder Mateschitz is dead
Dietrich Mateschitz is dead. The Red Bull founder died at the age of 78. The company based in Fuschl informed the employees in an email.
Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz is dead. The Austrian multi-billionaire died at the age of 78 after a serious illness. The entrepreneur, who was born in Styria, had built up a global empire around the energy drink Red Bull.
Dietrich Mateschitz is dead. The Red Bull founder died at the age of 78. The Fuschl-based company informed the employees shortly before midnight in an email that the dpa news agency has received. “In those moments, sadness covers all other feelings. But soon the sadness will make way for gratitude, for what he changed, moved, achieved and made possible for so many people. We will remain respectfully and lovingly connected to him, ”it said.
“We knew he was in a very serious health condition. But still, now that it’s happened, it’s unbelievable for all of us,” Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko told the TV station on Saturday sky in the paddock of the Formula 1 in Austin.
With his company and his marketing strategy, Mateschitz shaped sport worldwide for many years. In addition to the Bundesliga soccer club RB Leipzig, the Austrian empire also includes the ice hockey club Red Bull Munich and the Formula 1 teams Red Bull and Alpha Tauri, formerly Toro Rosso. Numerous athletes around the world are under contract with Red Bull.
Mateschitz founded the company in 1984 together with the Thai Chaleo Yoovidhya. During a visit to Asia, he had previously become acquainted with the stimulating effect of the energy drink Kraetin Daeng (“Red Bull”). Mateschitz held 49 percent of the shares in the company, his business partner’s family the other 51 percent. It is initially unclear who will take over the management of the company. For a few years now, his son, whom Mateschitz has with his former partner, has been developed as a potential successor.
With his company, Mateschitz became a multi-billionaire. At the end of September, Forbes magazine listed him as 75th among the world’s super-rich with assets of 19 billion dollars (19.7 billion euros). After his initial interest in architecture, the Styrian decided to study at the Vienna University of Applied Sciences to study business administration.
Mateschitz, who was born on May 20, 1944 in St. Marein in the Mürztal, then had his way through the marketing department of unilever and Jacobs to the toothpaste manufacturer Blendax before Mateschitz went into business for himself with Red Bull.
The Salzburg company based in Fuschl am See is known for creative advertising, the slogan “Red Bull gives you wings” is world famous. As the name suggests, two red bulls are depicted on the cans. An important milestone for Mateschitz was entering the US market at the end of the 1990s. Today every third can is sold in the USA. In 2008, Red Bull Cola was launched, taking the group against the world giant Coke competes. In addition, there are now numerous different flavors of Red Bull, all filled in brightly colored metal cans.
Mateschitz celebrated his most successful time in Formula 1 with Vettel
The company’s marketing concept in sports primarily included direct identification with the brand and its name. The fact that the RB at RB Leipzig stands for RasenBallsport and not for Red Bull is only due to the ban on advertising in club names in German professional football. In Salzburg and New York, both clubs bear the company name.
In Formula 1, Mateschitz celebrated the most successful time with Sebastian Vettel, from 2010 up to and including 2014 the native of Heppenheim and Red Bull won the drivers’ and constructors’ titles.
Formula 1 driver Sebastian Vettel (right) from Germany and Dietrich Mateschitz (centre) at the 2008 Italian GP in Monza
Source: dpa/Robert Ghement
Last year, Red Bull returned to the throne with world champion Max Verstappen and is dominating the premier motorsport class again this year.
For him, Mateschitz is the most impressive entrepreneur “we’ve ever had in Austria, if not worldwide,” said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff: “He created a brand and an area that didn’t exist before. What he did for the sport and how much he gave to the sport didn’t exist before that.”
“He was an incredibly visionary entrepreneur,” said Formula 1 Managing Director Stefano Domenicali. “I will miss him very much, just like the whole Formula 1 family.”
In addition to sports and real estate, Mateschitz’ empire also includes various media, including his own TV station. There has also been criticism of the often high-risk sports in and with which Red Bull advertises itself, as fatal accidents and falls have occurred during advertising shoots.
Little is known about Mateschitz’ private life. He was considered shy of the public and rarely gave interviews. He has not been seen at public events for a long time.