Red Bull co-owner Dietrich Mateschitz has died after a long-term illness with cancer. The Austrian billionaire, integral in Red Bull’s involvement in Formula One, was 78 years old.
Forbes pegs Mateschitz's fortune at $20.2 billion; he was the 71st richest person in the world at the time of his death.
Red Bull and Race Cars
Mateschitz founded the energy drinks company in 1984.
He had a keen interest in race cars and bought the Jaguar F1 team in 2004 and renamed it Red Bull Racing the following season. The Red Bull race team has six World Champion's titles to its name, four in succession achieved by Sebastian Vetter and two by Max Verstappen.
Mateschitz also made headlines for his populist views. He previously criticized German chancellor Angela Merkel for her handling of the refugee crisis over 2015-16. The Austrian Servus TV station, owned by Red Bull Media House GmbH, is known for promoting right-wing provocative views. He also expressed his support for Trump.
Trakehner Horse Breeder
Mateschitz was also known as a Trakehner horse breeder with his own brood farm, Gestüt Murtal, at his estate Gut Admontbichl in the Austrian Alps.
According to Zuchter Forum, he bred Fleur (by Kentucky x Grafenstolz), Arosa (by Kentucky x Gribaldi), Topmodel (by Al Inclusive x Cadeau), and the Oldenburg stallion For Austria (by For Romance x Diamond Hit).
He also stood the Trakehner licensed Villazon (by Ituango xx x Cadeau) and Rauhreif (by Freiherr von Stein x Perechlest).
German Friederike Schulz-Wallner competed some of his horses.
Photo © Stephan Bischoff
Related Links
Viva Vechta: Walks, Talks, Colts and Impressions at 2019 Oldenburg Stallion Licensing
Strong Selection at 2012 Trakehner Stallion Licensing