Ralph Dommermuth is a German businessman, the founder, chairman and CEO of United Internet.
Career
Dommermuth was born in 1963 and raised as the son of a realtor in Montabaur, Germany. He has one brother. After initial training at the Deutsche Bank, he started to work as sales freelancer for a local PC dealer in his hometown Montabaur in 1983. In 1988, Dommermuth founded the 1&1 EDV Marketing GmbH together with a business partner. The first business idea was called "Software Börse", a marketing tool for software companies. For this product the company won the German direct marketingprice in 1989. The Company also organized special exhibitions at the CEBIT in Hannover, such as the "Software-Zentrum Mittelstand" and "Software for Europe." In 1992, his company 1&1 was commissioned by Deutsche Telekom to sell Bildschirmtext-access-points and later T-Online accounts. After the initial success as a marketing service provider Dommermuth converted 1&1 into an internet service provider, beginning in 1996. In March 1998, the company had its IPO as the first German Internet company. Due to the capital increase carried out in this context, 1&1 had opportunity to participate in other IT companies such as GMX and Schlund + Partner AG. At the height of the internet boom in the early 2000s, 1&1 Holding held shares in 17 internet companies and Dommermuth renamed the company to United Internet. Dommermuth owns 40% of United Internet, the Germany-headquartered broadband provider, which manages the 1&1, GMX and Web.de brands, with 2015 turnover of Euro 3.7 billion, and 48 million customers in 11 countries. Dommermuth is Germany's sole Internet billionaire, and the country's youngest self-made billionaire.
Donations
In 2017, when federal elections took place in Germany, the largest donation to a political party was provided by Dommermuth, Euro 500,000 Euro to the CDU, Germany's conservative party.
Personal life
Dommermuth has a child from an earlier marriage. He is married to Judith Berger, a model, and they live in Montabaur.
