[CutePuppy]

The article and other news talk about "financial ruin" of the family. Apparently, the centerpiece of his business empire was heavily leveraged with debt and attempts to refinance it went nowhere after the financial crisis and credit freeze hit the markets and value of his companies dropped 70%. So there is a good chance that banks will get all of it to satisfy loan defaults.

He also borrowed from his other (pharmaceutical companies) holdings to save the company, leaving them and himself in dire financial straights.

Seeing his entire life's work and family finances in ruins could not have been easy for 74-year old, who probably never led what most of us would call a "normal life". Some people drive harder and soar higher, but it's those heights that make it so much harder to land unscathed.

Some details here:
Facing Losses, Billionaire Takes His Own Life

Merckle’s HeidelbergCement Drops After Adolf Suicide

[Schwaeky]

investment losses due to debt...

leveraged out the wazoo????

somebody should have told this guy about dave ramsey...