Inherited fortunes shape the future of global wealth
While most spend a lifetime pursuing wealth, a rare few are born into billions. The 2025 list of the world’s youngest billionaires, compiled from Forbes data, underscores the power of inheritance and family legacies in global finance. Leading the pack is a 19-year-old German heir, now the youngest billionaire on the planet.
Johannes von Baumbach, 19: A pharmaceutical fortune
Johannes von Baumbach, just 19 years old, is the youngest billionaire in the world with a net worth of $5.6 billion. He is an heir to Boehringer Ingelheim, a privately held German pharmaceutical giant. Although the family maintains a low public profile, Johannes is part of a wealthy lineage with three older siblings—aged 23, 25, and 27—each reportedly worth $5.4 billion.
Lívia Voigt de Assis, 20: Powering Latin America’s motor industry
Lívia Voigt de Assis holds a $1.2 billion stake in WEG, Latin America’s largest electric motor manufacturer. The company was co-founded by her grandfather, Werner Ricardo Voigt. At 20, she is one of Brazil’s most prominent young business figures, though she has kept a modest public image.
Clemente Del Vecchio, 20: Eyewear empire heir
At 20, Clemente Del Vecchio commands a $6.6 billion fortune. He is one of the six children of the late Leonardo Del Vecchio, the founder of EssilorLuxottica—the world’s largest eyeglass conglomerate. Clemente inherited a 12.5% stake in the company, placing him among the wealthiest individuals of his age group.
Kim Jung-youn, 21: Gaming wealth without involvement
With a net worth of $1.3 billion, Kim Jung-youn inherited her fortune from her father, Kim Jung-ju, the founder of gaming giant Nexon. Despite owning a substantial stake, she remains uninvolved in the business’s operations, marking her as a silent stakeholder in one of Asia’s top gaming companies.
Kevin David Lehmann, 22: A quiet stake in German retail
Kevin David Lehmann inherited a 50% stake in dm-drogerie markt, Germany’s largest drugstore chain. His net worth currently stands at $4.2 billion. Despite his massive ownership, Lehmann has shown no interest in managing or participating in the business, continuing the trend of passive wealth among next-gen billionaires.
Franz von Baumbach, 23: A sibling in the billionaires club
Franz von Baumbach, Johannes’s older brother, also holds a $5.6 billion stake in the Boehringer Ingelheim empire. Like his siblings, Franz is a beneficiary of one of Europe’s most discreet pharmaceutical dynasties.
Kim Jung-min, 23: Nexon heiress alongside her sister
Kim Jung-min, sister to Kim Jung-youn, shares in the family fortune. With a net worth of $5.6 billion, she inherited a large portion of NXC—the parent company of Nexon—following her father’s death in 2022. Like her sister, Jung-min has no direct involvement in the business.
Luca Del Vecchio, 23: Another heir in the Del Vecchio legacy
Luca Del Vecchio, also 23, joins his half-brother Clemente among the youngest billionaires. He holds a $6.5 billion share in EssilorLuxottica and other family-held ventures. His wealth reflects the vast distribution of assets within the Del Vecchio family following Leonardo Del Vecchio’s death.
