The 100 most influential in Vorarlberg: Who will dominate in 2025?

The 100 most influential in Vorarlberg: Who will dominate in 2025?

On December 27, 2025, a list of the 100 most influential people in Vorarlberg was published. The ranking, created by an eleven-member jury, takes into account people who have a concrete impact on life in the state. Not only political offices and economic leadership roles play a role, but also social recognition. Influence is assessed in five categories: political-social influence, economic influence, innovative strength and future orientation, sustainability of influence as well as visibility and recognition. The final jury negotiations led to a clear agreement on the personalities to be evaluated, although some controversial topics were also addressed, such as gender distribution and the role of certain professional groups. Vol.at reports about the background of these decision-making processes.

Markus Wallner, the governor of Vorarlberg, tops the list, followed by entrepreneur Franz Rauch and the brothers Philipp and Martin Blum. Other personalities in the top 10 include state bishop Benno Elbs, Christof Germann from illwerke-vkw, the managing director of the state hospitals Gerald Fleisch as well as state governor Christof Bitschi and state councilor Marco Tittler. This list not only reflects power relations in Vorarlberg, but has also sparked a lively discussion about social structures and the visibility of influence. MyStar reports, that the discussions also go beyond possible inequalities in terms of wealth and influence, as Vorarlberg is known as a wealthy federal state.

Wealth and influence in Vorarlberg

Vorarlberg, as the westernmost federal state in Austria, has a large number of wealthy personalities. Many of these rich people have acquired their wealth through innovative business models, investments and, in some cases, inheritance. Examples include the Rauch families, known for Rauch fruit juices, and the Zumtobels from the lighting industry. Entrepreneurs such as Walter Klaus from the technology and mechanical engineering sector or Hubert Rhomberg, who stands for sustainable construction with Rhomberg Bau, are also prominently represented. The industry is diverse and includes, among other things, technology, construction and industry. Headtopics reports about the economic landscape in the region.

Discrepancies between the wealthy and less well-off citizens are particularly noticeable in the general distribution of wealth. Nine Vorarlberg personalities are among the richest 100 Austrians, with a frontrunner in the region, Reinold Geiger, whose fortune is estimated at 4.4 billion euros. The 100 richest Austrians have total assets of 205 billion euros. This means that very rich Vorarlberg residents are not only important for the economy, but also contribute to the creation of jobs and the stability of the region.

The current discussion emphasizes the need to promote young talent and assume social responsibility. Many rich people in Vorarlberg are actively involved in educational initiatives, support cultural projects and contribute to improving the quality of life of their fellow citizens. But they are also criticized, especially when it comes to their influence on political decisions. The challenges arising from digitalization, sustainability and demographic developments are also not ignored.