German billionaire Maximilian Viessmann has led his family business in acquiring a €250 million stake in Bayern Munich, marking the club’s fourth outside shareholder. The investment, announced last week, values the German football powerhouse at approximately €3.7 billion—nearly triple its estimated value when Allianz purchased its stake in 2014.
Viessmann, 37, head of Viessmann Generations Group, emphasized that the purchase was driven by a combination of passion for the sport and long-term strategic value rather than immediate financial returns. “This is a strategic investment” focused on “long-term value creation,” he said, highlighting that the stake is intended as an “evergreen investment” with no plans for a quick sale or dividend realization. He described the acquisition as a “return on life,” reflecting pride in supporting Bayern Munich’s on-field success while contributing as a businessman.
The Viessmann Generations Group, which generated substantial capital through the 2023 €12 billion sale of its heating division to US company Carrier Global Corp, joins prominent German corporations Adidas, Audi, and Allianz as outside shareholders. These investments combined now constitute 30 percent ownership of Bayern Munich, the maximum allowed by the club’s constitution. The remaining shares are held by its roughly 450,000 members, preserving the club’s traditional structure, which is aligned with German football’s strict ownership regulations mandating that more than half of voting rights remain with club members.
Bayern Munich is ranked by Deloitte as the third-richest football club globally, surpassing all English Premier League teams. Its robust commercial revenue streams underpin its strong market position, enabling continual competition at the highest levels and the ability to attract internationally recognized players such as England captain Harry Kane and French winger Michael Olise. Despite Bayern’s financial strength and consistent Bundesliga dominance—with 13 league titles in the last 14 seasons—the German domestic league faces criticism for a growing competitive imbalance.
The Viessmann family, ranked 12th on Germany’s wealth list by Manager Magazin following their heating division sale, continues to hold a 5 percent stake in Carrier Global. Their broader business interests include electricity grid infrastructure, district heating and cooling, refrigeration technologies, and investments in start-ups, with total revenues around €2 billion. This latest move into professional football highlights a strategic diversification of their portfolio, blending business interests with personal passion and long-term commitment to a major sports institution.