Adolf Merckle, German Billionaire, Kills Himself As Empire Crumbles

[babylonsister]

Adolf Merckle, German Billionaire, Kills Himself As Empire Crumbles

GEIR MOULSON | January 6, 2009 10:56 AM EST


BERLIN — German billionaire Adolf Merckle has committed suicide after his business empire, which included interests ranging from pharmaceuticals to cement, ran into trouble in the global financial crisis, his family said Tuesday.

The 74-year-old's body was found Monday night near railway tracks at Blaubeuren in southwestern Germany, prosecutors in nearby Ulm said in a statement. They described the death as a "railway accident" and said there was no evidence that anyone else was to blame.

His family, which had reported Merckle missing after he failed to return home Monday, issued a brief statement saying he took his own life.

"Adolf Merckle lived and worked for his family and his firms," it said.

"The distress to his firms caused by the financial crisis and the related uncertainties of recent weeks, along with the helplessness of no longer being able to act, broke the passionate family businessman, and he ended his life," it said.

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/06/adolf-merckle-german-bill_n_155586.html

[shadowknows69]

1. When money is your God....

[babylonsister]

3. Yep. How sad is that?

Too bad he couldn't find any joy elsewhere besides the 'almighty' dollar.

[Warpy]

4. Some people can't deal with being ordinary

If they don't have money giving them a sense that they're entitled to more than the rest of humanity will ever see, it's all over for them.

[lapfog_1]

2. Great thing about being run over by a train

you could have been on the track by mistake,

you could have intentionally stepped in front of the train,

or

you could have been pushed.