The Ottos, the Porsche-Piëchs and the Henkels - for several generations they have run companies that have become major corporations and global players. Whether cars, washing powder or consumer goods by mail order - many of their products and brands are known worldwide and have been successful for decades. And yet, the struggle for the leading positions in markets at home and abroad continues to determine the everyday life of companies. Remarkable upswings have been followed time and again by setbacks. Yet little is known about the fate of the men and women who worked or still work behind the scenes, whether the company founders themselves or their heirs. The members of the clans usually shy away from contact with the mass media and are reluctant to show their cards. Some are afraid of becoming victims of kidnapping if they become known. And yet the authors have again succeeded in getting members of the clans to give interviews and gain access to the company and private archives. What is the secret of the business families? Is their model superior to that of other large companies? What sacrifices did the rise demand of the relatives? How did the clans behave in the respective historical-political context? And how are they positioned for the future?