Albert | |||||
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Prince of Thurn and Taxis | |||||
Prince Albert in 2011
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Head of the House of Thurn and Taxis | |||||
Period | 14 December 1990 – present | ||||
Predecessor | Johannes | ||||
Heir presumptive | Prince Max Emanuel | ||||
Born |
Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany |
24 June 1983 ||||
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House | Thurn and Taxis | ||||
Father | Johannes, 11th Prince of Thurn and Taxis | ||||
Mother | Countess Gloria of Schönburg Glauchau | ||||
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Full name | |
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German: Albert Maria Lamoral Miguel Johannes Gabriel Prinz von Thurn und Taxis |
Albert Maria Lamoral Miguel Johannes Gabriel, 12th Prince of Thurn and Taxis (Albert Fürst von Thurn und Taxis; born 24 June 1983), is a German , businessman, and race car driver. He has been listed as the world's youngest billionaire many times since his father's death in 1990, first appearing on the list when he was age eight.
The House of Thurn und Taxis is a German family whose fortune derives from the appointment of an ancestor, Leonhard von Taxis, as hereditary postmaster general of the Holy Roman Empire in 1595. Albert's father preceded him as the head of this family, which has several branches. The family of Thurn und Taxis remains well known as owners of breweries and former builders of castles.
His father, Johannes, 11th Prince of Thurn and Taxis, an internationally renowned boulevardier, died in 1990 when he was seven years old, leaving Albert to inherit a US$3 billion fortune and US$500 million in debts. His mother, Gloria (née Countess von Schönburg-Glauchau), a popular media figure since marriage to his 53-year-old father as a 20-year-old, was instrumental in preserving the family fortune until Albert became of legal age to take over its management. He has two older sisters: Princess Maria Theresia and Princess Elisabeth.
Thurn und Taxis completed his high school education in Rome and then, after his military service, he studied economics and theology at the University of Edinburgh. He is an enthusiastic racing driver, vice-champion (2007/2008) and champion (2010) of the German GT Championship ADAC GT Masters with the German Team Reiter Engineering.
In 2008 Albert was included as 11th on the list of the Forbes Magazine's List of The 20 Hottest Young Royals as compiled by Forbes magazine.