Wim van der Leegte Biography & Net Worth

Wim van der Leegte Biography & Net Worth

This article is centered on Wim van der Leegte, the Dutch billionaire businessman who runs the Netherlands-based company VDL Groep. He is an heir to his family’s business which specializes in numerous industries, all covered in this publication of course. Follow us, as we demystify Wim’s biography and bring to the limelight, various details of his life and career. Stay with us.

Early Life: Childhood, Education

He was born Wilhelmus Gerardus Stephanus Maria van der Leegte in the Netherlands in August 1947. Details about his early days and family are still lacking in the media, but we do have confirmation that he completed his advanced studies at a Dutch University before fathering his career.

Professional Life: Business Career

The Dutch billionaire businessman Wim van der Leegte currently controls the Netherlands-based company VDL Groep, known to be one of Europe’s biggest privately held car and bus manufacturers. The business was established in 1953 by Wim’s father Pieter van der Leegte when it was initially established as a small enterprise that dealt with the making of parts for trucking companies.

After 50 years as the company’s president, Wim van der Leegte step down from his position in November 2016. Today, he oversees the business from a distant position and doesn’t get involved in its day-to-day activities.

About the Company

VDL Groep can be best described as an international industrial company that currently deals with several things all at once. Established in 1953 by Wim’s father Pieter van der Leegte, the company’s head office is currently in Eindhoven, Netherlands. The VDL group of companies supervises its subsidiaries and maintains a high level of independence and responsibility for results.

Presently, the bus and coach division consists of mini & midi buses, second-hand buses, chassis modules, coaches, and public transport buses. The finished products division is extensive: systems for the oil, gas, and petrochemical industry, systems for the agricultural sector, cigar-making and packaging machines, suspension systems for the automotive industry, production systems for optical media and medical systems, production automation systems, roof boxes/container handling equipment, and heating, cooling, and air-technical systems.

The company was founded by Pieter van der Leegte senior as “Metaalindustrie en Constructiewerkplaats P. van der Leegte”. He was the chief executive officer and president of the company for forty-five years, from 1972 until 2016. Today, Pieter’s youngest son, Wilhelmus Gerardus Stephanus Maria van der Leegte, is the company’s president.

VDL companies include:

1. VDL Nedcar (a brand-independent carmaker based in Born)
2. VDL Bus & Coach (bus and coach manufacturer based in Valkenswaard)
3. VDL TIM Hapert (an international company focused on the mechanical processing of forging works, welding assemblies, and complete products)
4. VDL ETG (Former Philips precision machine factories that now  specializes in high-tech module production and assembly)

In 1993 the VDL group of companies took over automobile makers DAF Bus International and later acquired Steelweld.

Personal Life: Family, Wife, Children

Win van der Leegte is a married and dad of three children. The whole family resides in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

His three children: Willem, Pieter, and Jennifer are all active members of the executive board of VDL, and also own shares in the company.

Wim Van Der Leegte Net Worth: Salary, Income Sources, Investments

Mr. Wim has made most of his wealth from the Van Der Leegte Groep, a multinational business venture that was built from the ground by his own father, Pieter Van der Leegte, and handed over to him in 2016 when the senior Van der leegte retired from his position as company’s president and chief executive officer. The VDL Groep is one of the largest privately-held automobile manufacturers in the whole of Europe. The company also manufactures agricultural equipment as well as heating and cooling systems for their clients in the gas and oil industries. Wim started working at the family business when he was a 19-year-old college student. He ran the company for a short time before taking over his father’s shares in 1972.

Wim Van Der Leegte’s net worth is estimated at $2 billion. Apart from his known responsibilities at VDL Groep, the father of three owns a stud farm where he breeds and trains showjumping horses, all for more profits.