Albert, 12th Prince of Thurn and Taxis (Albert Maria Lamoral Miguel Johannes Gabriel Fürst von Thurn und Taxis,[1]pronounced[ˈalbɛʁtmaˈʁiːalamoˈʁalmiˈɡɛljoˈhanəsˈɡaːbʁieːlfʏʁstfɔnˈtʊʁnʔʊntˈtaksɪs]; born 24 June 1983), is a German aristocrat, businessman and race car driver.[2][3]: 540 [4] He has been listed as the world's youngest billionaire many times since his father's death in 1990,[5] first appearing on the list when he was eight years old.[2]
His father, Johannes von Thurn und Taxis, an internationally renowned boulevardier, died in 1990 when Albert was seven years old, leaving the young boy to inherit a US$3 billion fortune and US$500 million in debts.[5] His mother, Gloria (née Countess von Schönburg-Glauchau), a popular media figure since marriage to his 53-year-old father as a 20-year-old, was instrumental in preserving the family fortune until Albert became of legal age to take over its management.[5] He has two older sisters: Princess Maria Theresia and Princess Elisabeth.[5]
Education
Thurn und Taxis completed his high school education in Rome and then, after his military service, he studied economics and theology at the University of Edinburgh. Prince Albert completed a doctorate in philosophy at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in 2022, defending a dissertation entitled: Rational Nature Or Wishful Thinking? Freedom & Rationality in Aquinas And Their Medieval Critique.[7]
Media attention
Prince Albert in 2008
In 2008 Albert was included as 11th on the list of the Forbes Magazine's List of The 20 Hottest Young Royals as compiled by Forbes magazine.[2]
Motorsport
He is an enthusiastic racing driver, vice-champion (2007/2008) and champion (2010) of the German GT Championship ADAC GT Masters with the German Team Reiter Engineering.[8]
^In 1919 royalty and nobility were mandated to lose their privileges in Germany, hereditary titles were to be legally borne thereafter only as part of the surname, according to Article 109 of the Weimar Constitution. Styles such as majesty and highnesswere not retained.Archived 24 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine
^ abWillis, Daniel. The Descendants of Louis XIII. Clearfield, 1999, Baltimore, US. ISBN0-8063-4942-5.
^ abcdGenealogisches Handbuch des Adels: Furstliche Hauser Band XIX. Limburg an der Lahn: C. A. Starke Verlag. 2011. pp. 369, 382–383, 385–386. ISBN978-3-7980-0849-6.