Karl Wittgenstein

Karl Otto Clemens Wittgenstein was born on April 8, 1847, and passed away on January 20, 1913. He was a German-born Austrian steel tycoon.

During the late 1800s, Karl Wittgenstein became very wealthy and powerful. He controlled most of the steel and iron resources in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, making him one of the richest people in the world at the time.

Karl Wittgenstein was also known for his friendship with Andrew Carnegie, another famous industrialist from that era.

Besides his business achievements, Karl Wittgenstein was the father of some well-known individuals. His children included Paul Wittgenstein, a talented concert pianist Paul Wittgenstein, Ludwig Wittgenstein, an important philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, and Margaret Stonborough-Wittgenstein, who worked as a philanthropist Margaret Stonborough-Wittgenstein.

Family background and origins

Karl Wittgenstein's grandfather was Moses Meyer. He came from Laasphe and moved to Korbach where he sold wool. Later, he changed his name to Moses Meyer Wittgenstein after Siegen-Wittgenstein.

Moses Meyer had a son named Hermann Christian. Hermann moved the family business to Gohlis and married Fanny Figdor from a well-known Vienna family. Karl was their sixth child. When Karl was three, the family moved to Vösendorf in Austria. Karl had many siblings. One of his brothers was Paul Wittgenstein, who was the grandfather of the pianist Paul Wittgenstein.

Biography

Karl Wittgenstein grew up in Vienna but had trouble with school. He left home twice — once when he was 11 and again when he was 17, even going to New York for a time. He worked at many jobs before going back to study engineering. He then worked in a steel mill and soon became a leader in the industry. By the late 1800s, he was one of Europe’s richest people and an important figure in steel and iron.

In 1873, Karl married Leopoldine Maria Josefa Kalmus. They had several children, including Paul, who became a famous concert pianist, and Ludwig, who grew up to be a well-known philosopher.