Austrian billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz, founder of the energy drink company Red Bull, has died at the age of 78, the company announced late Saturday in a statement.
According to the Austrian agency APA, he died of cancer.
First Austrian Fortune
Born on May 20, 1944, Dietrich Mateschitz had created Red Bull -“red bull” in English- in 1984, after discovering the drink in a Hong Kong hotel bar. This shy personality was considered in 2022 by Forbes magazine as the first fortune of Austria, estimated at 27,400 million euros.
The businessman had opted for sports sponsorship so as not to rely solely on the income generated by his energy drink as much as to offer him unparalleled exposure. In thirty years, the firm has become an essential partner in world sport, from extreme sports to Formula 1, including football.
Tributes from the world of Formula 1
Christian Horner, boss of the Red Bull team in F1, reacted immediately from Austin (Texas) where the United States Grand Prix takes place this Sunday. “He is very, very sad, what a great man. He is unique. What he has accomplished and what he has done for so many people around the world is second to none,” he told reporters.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali also said he was “deeply saddened”, paying tribute to “a much-respected and much-loved member of the Formula 1 family”. “He was an incredible visionary entrepreneur and a man who helped transform our sport and create the world famous Red Bull brand,” he said.
Source: BFM TV
