Livia Voigt, billionaire at 19, alongside her grandfather
Heiress of the machinery and equipment company WEG, Brazilian Livia Voigt, 19, became the youngest billionaire in the world, according to Forbes magazine. Previously, the person who occupied this position was the Italian Clemente Del Vecchio, the youngest son of Leonardo Del Vecchio, founder of Luxottica, the largest eyewear brand in the world.
His net worth, with his shareholding in the company his grandfather founded, is $1.1 billion. She is not the only one in the family to appear on the list: Dora Voight, 26, is her older sister and also has around 3% of WEG shares. Neither of them participates in the board or management.
Voigt family
Eduardo Voigt Schwartz and Mariana Voigt Schwartz Gomes also made the Forbes billionaires list. Both own just over 3% of the shares, which represents around US$1.3 billion in equity.
They are all grandchildren of Werner Ricardo Voigt, founder of the company alongside Eggon João da Silva and Geraldo Werninghaus.
The Forbes list of billionaires was released this Tuesday (2) and Livia appears alongside names such as pop singer Taylor Swift and former basketball player Magic Johnson.
The company
Founded in 1961, WEG initially produced only electric motors. It was only around 20 years later that the company expanded its activities and started producing electronic components, products for industrial automation, power and distribution transformers, electro-insulating paints and varnishes. The three founders have already passed away and left the inheritance to their families.
With a net worth of US$1.2 billion, Geraldo’s granddaughter, Anne Werninghaus, is also on the list of new billionaires. However, she does not work for the company, nor does she have a position on the board.
New billionaires on the best known list
• Taylor Swift (singer) – US$ 1.1 billion;
• Magic Johnson (former NBA player) – US$ 1.2 billion;
• Christian Louboutin (shoe designer) – US$ 1.2 billion;
• Cristina Junqueira (co-founder of Nubank) – US$ 1.4 billion;
• Maggie Gu, Molly Miao and Ren Xiaoqing (founders of Shein) – US$4.2 billion
• Todd Graves (founder of Raising Cane’s) – $9.1 billion
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