Albert II, Prince of Thurn and Taxis

Infobox_Person | name = Albert II, Prince of Thurn and Taxis
other_names = "Albert Maria Lamoral Miguel Johannes Gabriel"


birth_date = birth date and age|1983|06|24
birth_place = Regensburg, Germany
title = Prince of Thurn and Taxis
religion = Catholic
relations = Johannes, 11th Prince of Thurn and Taxis and Countess Gloria of Schönburg in Glauchau and Waldenburginfobox hrhstyles
royal name=Albert II, Prince of Thurn and Taxis


dipstyle=His Serene Highness
offstyle=Your Serene Highness
altstyle=Sir

"Albert II" Maria Lamoral Miguel Johannes Gabriel, 12th Prince of Thurn and Taxis (in German: "Albert Maria Lamoral Miguel Johannes Gabriel Fürst [German title|Fürst] von Thurn und Taxis") (born June 24 1983, Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany), was for years the youngest person on the Forbes ranking of the world's billionaires. As of 2008, he is the third youngest billionaire and the 524th richest man in the world. [ [http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/10/billionaires08_Albert-von-Thurn-und-Taxis_0PW3.html #524 Albert von Thurn und Taxis - Forbes.com ] ] His net worth is estimated at around $2.3 billion (USD) as of 2008. His mother, Gloria (née Countess of Schönburg in Glauchau and Waldenburg), was a popular media figure in the 1980s, and was instrumental in preserving his fortune until he was old enough to inherit.

Prince Albert completed his high school education in Rome and then, after his military service, he went to the University of Edinburgh where he is currently studying economics and theology. He is an enthusiastic racing driver, vice-champion of the 2007 German GT Championship ADAC GT Masters with the German Team Reiter Engineering.

The Princely House of Thurn and Taxis is a German family whose fortune derives from their position as hereditary general postmasters of the Holy Roman Empire. As such, the family was a key player in the postal (mail) services in Europe in the 16th century. The Thurn and Taxis family remains well known as owners of breweries and builders of countless castles.

In 2008 he was included as 11th on the list of the "20 Hottest Young Royals" as compiled by Forbes Magazine. [Cite news |title=The 20 Hottest Young Royals - 11. Prince Albert|url=http://www.forbes.com/2008/05/23/royals-celebrity-monarchs-biz-billies-cz_ls_0527royals_slide_12.html |publisher="Forbes" |date=2008-05-27 |accessdate=2008-06-04]

References

External links

* [http://www.thurnundtaxis.de/ Thurn and Taxis Family Homepage]
* [http://www.eurohistory.com/site/thurn.html Thurn und Taxis: The History of an Enterprising Family]
* [http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,1810309,00.html Richest Germans: Silver Spoon Baby]
* [http://www.reiter-engineering.com/racing-drivers/albert-von-thurn-und-taxis/ Racing Driver for Reiter Engineering (Lamborghini Gallardo GT3)]