Lars Windhorst Story - Articles and Media
Lars Windhorst's Comeback Story
February 24, 2010
Lars Windhorst stands for a lot of what the country has been accusing its bankers of for months: greed, boundlessness, immoral behavior. At the young age of only 33, former prodigy of Helmut Kohl looks back at half a dozen bankruptcies and charges. This year will be his year, he says. Still, billionaire businessmen trust him with their money. Why is that?
A long-term reportage.
A long-term reportage.
Splendid crystal chandeliers flood the room with warm light. Modern art on the walls, abundant and meticulously arranged flowers decorate the area between the lounge and the dining hall. Attendants dressed in black and white keep their distance respectfully. It is lunch time in the city of London and no one comes to this exclusive private club just for dining. Business is made here, big business. At a table in the middle of the room is sitting a man in his mid-thirties, his back is in an upright position. His suit: Kiton, dark blue, custom-made; the black leather shoes: handcrafted. Lars Windhorst came with two men, both are about 15 years older than him. One of them, a graying Korean, is a rich man working by private means. The other one comes from a South African billionaire family. They talk and joke with each other. It looks like they are friends. "I could be Lars' biggest enemy", one of them says. They trusted the youngster with their money. This way they lost nine million euros five years ago. And about a year ago the youngster again went bankrupt with their joint company. Afterward they made Windhorst their partner. Almost unnoticed Lars Windhorst made some of his biggest deals in the last year. He put companies back on track, and even helped out a Dax-company. And this year, he says, will be his year. He has deals of billions in mind. How is it possible? This is one of the greatest mysteries.
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Lars Windhorst - Overcoming Challenging Times
January 25, 2010
Lars Windhorst, the "Wunderkind", speaks about his mistakes, Helmut Kohl - and what it's like to live without a credit card, a bank account and a cellphone.
On November, 22nd in 1976 Lars Windhorst is born in the North Rhine-Westphalian city of Rahden. At the age of 16 he drops out of high school and founds the company Windhorst Electronics GmbH which trades with computers. Within the first business year he turns over 80 million Deutsche Mark. From 1995 on he mainly lives in Hong Kong managing several companies and working in investment and financial services. In 2001 Windhorst's group of companies becomes shaky, in 2003 it collapses. By the end of 2009 he has to answer for that to a court of law in Berlin. At the same time Windhorst was already back as co-founder of investment group Sapinda. Windhorst is married and lives in London.
For eight years Lars Windhorst (33) has not given an interview. "Most likely even nine years", he says. Windhorst meteoric ascent as a teenaged entrepreneur was later followed by a number of bankruptcies and a plane crash. Today he is back in business as Financial Manager of the British investment group Sapinda.
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On November, 22nd in 1976 Lars Windhorst is born in the North Rhine-Westphalian city of Rahden. At the age of 16 he drops out of high school and founds the company Windhorst Electronics GmbH which trades with computers. Within the first business year he turns over 80 million Deutsche Mark. From 1995 on he mainly lives in Hong Kong managing several companies and working in investment and financial services. In 2001 Windhorst's group of companies becomes shaky, in 2003 it collapses. By the end of 2009 he has to answer for that to a court of law in Berlin. At the same time Windhorst was already back as co-founder of investment group Sapinda. Windhorst is married and lives in London.
For eight years Lars Windhorst (33) has not given an interview. "Most likely even nine years", he says. Windhorst meteoric ascent as a teenaged entrepreneur was later followed by a number of bankruptcies and a plane crash. Today he is back in business as Financial Manager of the British investment group Sapinda.
Read More...