German billionaire commits suicide

One of the top 100 richest people in the world commits suicide  due to financial trouble with his companies amid the economic crisis.

74-year-old Adolf Merckle who was number 94 on the Forbes list of the world’s richest people ended his life in a railway in Ulm, Germany.

According to his family, “The financial troubles of his companies, induced by the international financial crisis and the uncertainty and powerlessness to act independently which the financial problems brought about, broke the passionate family business man, and he took his own life.” Merckle lost hundreds of millions of dollars, including company capital, betting against Volkswagen stock last year.

The German billionaire’s body was found on the tracks at about 7 p.m.Monday night. He also left a suicide note to his family but the content was not divulged.