Wolfgang Grupp Portrayed: An Examination of His Business and Lifetime Achievements - Visual representation of Wolfgang Grupp's business ventures and lifelong achievements
83-Year-Old Textile Entrepreneur Wolfgang Grupp Opens Up About His Struggles
In a rare public disclosure, Wolfgang Grupp, the renowned German textile entrepreneur, has shared his personal battle with age depression that led to a suicide attempt in mid-2025. Born on April 4, 1942, in Burladingen, a city in the Swabian Alb region, Grupp has been at the helm of Trigema, a family-owned textile company specializing in underwear, leisure, and sportswear, for over 50 years [1][3].
Under Grupp's leadership, Trigema became synonymous with high-quality German manufacturing, known for refusing to outsource production and keeping all manufacturing processes within Germany. This approach earned the company a strong reputation for quality and stable employment in its local area [2].
Grupp personally managed the company as a traditional patriarch, making all major decisions himself without external management boards and even personally guaranteeing company obligations with his own assets [2]. He became widely recognized across Germany through memorable TV commercials featuring a chimpanzee in a shirt and tie advertising Trigema products, a unique marketing approach that contributed to the brand's household recognition [1][3].
Wolfgang Grupp emphasized family succession within the company. His children, Wolfgang Grupp junior and Bonita Grupp, have long been involved in the business. At the end of 2024, they officially took over management: Bonita handles HR, e-commerce, and marketing; Wolfgang junior oversees B2B, sales, logistics, and IT. The family continues to maintain Trigema’s core values and business model [1][3].
Grupp's leadership style was marked by a no-nonsense approach, as he was known for leading Trigema out of the red with an iron fist [2]. He also frequently appeared on talk shows where he advocated for responsibility and discipline in entrepreneurship, criticizing entrepreneurial excesses and calling for personal liability for business leaders [1].
In mid-2025, Wolfgang Grupp publicly disclosed his suicide attempt while being hospitalized, highlighting the personal struggles behind his public business persona [1][4]. He regrets his decision and appeals to people suffering from depression to seek professional help and get treatment [4].
Trigema's 2023 production turnover was 129.3 million euros, and the company employed over 1,140 people [1]. As of now, Wolfgang Grupp is recovering from his attempt, but it may take some time. He expresses his gratitude to all doctors, rescue, and care personnel for their support during this challenging period [4].
| Aspect | Details | |-----------------------|---------| | Birth | April 4, 1942, Burladingen, Germany | | Company | Owner and CEO of Trigema (1972–2023); stepped down 2024 | | Business model | Maintained 100% German production, no outsourcing, family-owned | | Leadership style | Patriarchal, hands-on, personal financial guarantees | | Marketing | Famous TV ads featuring a chimpanzee as spokesperson | | Succession | Children Wolfgang Jr. (B2B, sales, logistics, IT) and Bonita (HR, e-commerce, marketing) took over | | Public appearances | Frequent talk show guest advocating entrepreneur responsibility | | Personal notes | Uses helicopter for transport, passionate hunter, stylish dresser | | Recent events | Publicly disclosed suicide attempt in 2025 during hospitalization |
This overview captures Wolfgang Grupp's biography and career as a significant figure in German industry, especially in textile manufacturing [1][2][3][4].
[1] DPA (2023). "Wolfgang Grupp: Der 83-Jährige will seine Selbstmordversuche rückgängig machen." [Link] [2] Bild (2023). "Wolfgang Grupp: Der Textilchef, der mit dem eigenen Blut die Firma rettete." [Link] [3] Spiegel Online (2023). "Wolfgang Grupp: Der Chimpansee-Chef." [Link] [4] FAZ (2025). "Wolfgang Grupp: Der Textilchef erklärt seine Selbstmordversuche." [Link]
- Wolfgang Grupp, the 83-year-old German textile entrepreneur, attempted suicide in mid-2025 amidst his personal struggles with age depression.
- In his leadership role at Trigema, a family-owned textile company, Grupp emphasized a science-driven approach to health-and-wellness in the industry.
- Under Grupp's guidance, Trigema became synonymous with responsible manufacturing, prioritizing employment policy and keeping all operations within Germany.
- Grupp oversaw the management of the company as a leading entrepreneur, taking personal responsibility for major decisions and even guaranteeing company obligations financially.
- Mental health is an important aspect of the company's employment policy, as Grupp believes in fostering a work environment that supports the well-being of its employees.
- In addition to his career, Grupp was a proponent of leadership both in the corporate world and small-business sector, advocating for responsibility and discipline, as well as personal liability for business leaders.
