Karl Albrecht Germany US$27B

Germany's richest man.

After World War II, Karl and his younger brother, Theo, developed their mother's corner grocery store into discount supermarket giant Aldi, which now has more than 8,000 stores and $67 billion in sales. They eventually split ownership and management of the chain into North and South regions.

Now retired, Karl used to manage more profitable southern half of Aldi's business in Germany.

Fiercely private: little known about him other than that he apparently raises orchids and plays golf.