Trader Joe’s Co-Owner Theo Albrecht Dies at 88

Trader Joe’s co-owner Theo Albrecht, one of the richest men in Germany, died on July 24 at age 88 in his home city Essen, Germany.
Trader Joe’s Co-Owner Theo Albrecht Dies at 88
Trader Joe's co-owner Theo Albrecht wave at his villa in Essen, Germany, in 1971. Since he was kidnapped that year, he became a recluse and seldom had pictures taken of him. (Roland Scheidemann/AFP/Getty Images)
7/29/2010
Updated:
10/1/2015
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Trader Joe's co-owner Theo Albrecht wave at his villa in Essen, Germany, in 1971. Since he was kidnapped that year, he became a recluse and seldom had pictures taken of him. (Roland Scheidemann/AFP/Getty Images)
Trader Joe’s co-owner Theo Albrecht, one of the richest men in Germany, died on July 24 at age 88 in his home city Essen, Germany.

Albrecht was a co-founder of the Aldi global supermarket chain along with his his brother Karl.

He was ranked by Forbes as the 31st richest person in the world with a net worth of $16.7 billion.

With its relatively cheap prices on premium food items, Trader Joe’s has 340 stores have become increasingly popular during the economic downturn.

Aldi has over 8,000 stores around the world, with Theo Albrecht having owned more than half of them.

Theo Albrecht was kidnapped for 17 days in 1971, and became a recluse thereafter. He was said to had collected old typewriters and loved the game of golf.

He is survived by his wife with two children.