Capital (German magazine)
German business magazine

Capital
Editor-in-chiefTimo Pache
CategoriesBusiness magazine
FrequencyMonthly
PublisherRTL Deutschland
Founded1962; 64 years ago (1962)
CompanyRTL Deutschland (Gruner + Jahr brand)
CountryGermany
Based inBerlin
LanguageGerman
WebsiteOfficial website
ISSN0008-5847
OCLC803989959

Capital is a German-language monthly business magazine published by RTL Deutschland under the Gruner + Jahr brand. The publication is based in Berlin and covers economic, financial, and social issues with the editorial credo that "economy is society."[1]

History

Capital was founded in 1962 by Adolf Theobald. Two-thirds of its shares were later acquired by John Jahr Sr. and contributed to the founding of Gruner + Jahr in 1965.[2] Gruner + Jahr became the sole owner in 1968.[3]

Originally headquartered in Cologne, the editorial office moved to Hamburg in 2009 when Capital, Financial Times Deutschland, Impulse, and Börse Online were merged into a joint editorial team.[4] After the closure of Financial Times Deutschland in 2012, Capital relocated to Berlin and relaunched both its magazine and website in 2013.[5]

On 1 March 2021, the political and business editorial teams of Stern, Capital and Business Punk were merged into a joint Berlin bureau. The combined team, comprising around 35 journalists, produces shared coverage for all three titles.[6][7] In February 2023, Timo Pache became editor-in-chief, succeeding Horst von Buttlar, who moved to Stern.[8]

Profile

Capital presents business and finance topics from social, cultural, and economic perspectives. The magazine is structured around three main sections: World of Business, Invest, and Life, covering macroeconomic issues, wealth management, and lifestyle content respectively.[9] It is regarded as one of Germany's most widely read business magazines.[10]

In addition to print, the brand supports a robust digital presence, operating a mobile app, newsletters, and a digital subscription platform where readers access extended analyses, proprietary rankings, and financial data tools.[11][12]

Regular features

Since 1970, Capital has published the annual Kunstkompass, a ranking of contemporary artists based on their exhibition presence and media visibility.[13] Other long-running rankings include the Top 40 under 40 ("Junge Elite"), a list of young leaders in business, politics, and science launched in 2007,[14] and the Capital Elite Panel, a long-term leadership survey conducted with the Institut für Demoskopie Allensbach.[15]

Events

Capital hosts several high-profile business events:

  • Junge-Elite Summit, an annual Berlin gathering of the "Top 40 under 40" network with partners such as Google, Microsoft, or Vodafone.[16]
  • Vermögensaufbau-Gipfel, a conference for investors and financial advisers in Frankfurt am Main focusing on asset strategies, market outlooks, and sustainable investment.[17]

Brand and digital extensions

Capital also publishes special issues under the Capital Extra label,[18] and operates the weekly financial newsletter Capital Depesche, available in print and digital form since the 1970s.[19]

In 2019, Capital and Online Marketing Rockstars (OMR) launched Finance Forward, a digital magazine and podcast focused on fintech and modern finance.[20] Other podcast formats include Meine erste Million with journalist Ronja von Rönne and Die Stunde Null hosted by former editor-in-chief Horst von Buttlar.[21]

Circulation

Capital has experienced a gradual decline in print circulation, similar to other German business publications. According to IVW, the magazine sold around 116,000 copies in 2024.[22]

Editors-in-chief

Tenure Editor-in-chief
1962–1971 Adolf Theobald
1971–1974 Ferdinand Simoneit
1974–1980 Johannes Gross
1980–1986 Ludolf Herrmann
1987–1988 Dieter Piel
1988–1991 Rolf Prudent
1991–2001 Ralf-Dieter Brunowsky
2002–2006 Kai Stepp
2006–2009 Klaus Schweinsberg
2009–2013 Steffen Klusmann
2013–2023 Horst von Buttlar
since 2023 Timo Pache

See also

List of magazines in Germany

References

  1. ^ "Capital". n-tv (in German). Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Ein Überblick über die Geschichte des Druck- und Verlagshauses Gruner + Jahr" (PDF) (in German). Gruner + Jahr. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Nachruf auf Capital-Gründer Theobald". Capital.de (in German). 3 September 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  4. ^ "G+J-Wirtschaftspresse: Alle Titel bleiben erhalten". Horizont (in German). 19 November 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Capital: Alles auf Anfang in Berlin". Meedia (in German). 16 January 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  6. ^ ""Stern" und "Capital" mit gemeinsamem Hauptstadtbüro". Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). 20 January 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  7. ^ ""Stern" und "Capital" bündeln Politik- und Wirtschaftsressorts". DWDL (in German). 19 January 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Timo Pache wird Chefredakteur von Capital". W&V (in German). 19 January 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  9. ^ "Das Wirtschaftsmagazin Capital – eine Rezension". WiPub.net (in German). 18 December 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Printmedien – AWA Allensbach" (in German). IfD Allensbach. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Capital Magazin App description". Apple App Store. 16 July 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  12. ^ "Capital – official site". Capital.de. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  13. ^ "Kunstkompass 2023: Die wichtigsten Künstler der Welt". Capital.de (in German). 6 October 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  14. ^ "Capital kürt die herausragenden Talente Deutschlands – die "Top 40 unter 40"" (in German). RTL Media Hub. 15 November 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  15. ^ "CAPITAL–F.A.Z. Elite-Panel" (PDF). IfD Allensbach. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  16. ^ "Junge Elite – Archive". Capital.de (in German). Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  17. ^ "Capital Vermögensaufbau-Gipfel 2019" (in German). CFA Germany. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  18. ^ "Capital Einzelhefte – jetzt im Online-Shop bestellen". shop.capital.de (in German). Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  19. ^ "Capital relauncht seinen wöchentlichen Börsenbrief "Capital Depesche"" (in German). Gruner + Jahr. 23 June 2003. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  20. ^ "Finance Forward: OMR und Capital machen beim Aufbau eines neuen Finanzmediums gemeinsame Sache". Meedia (in German). 2 October 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  21. ^ "Capital startet Podcast "Meine erste Million" mit Ronja von Rönne" (in German). Gruner + Jahr. 19 August 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  22. ^ "Capital – Verkaufte Auflage bis 2024". Statista (in German). Retrieved 1 October 2025.

Official website

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