While it used to be a trivial offense in Germany, today tax evasion often seems like a sport for the rich. Boris Becker, Uli Hoeneß, Klaus Zumwinkel – they all had to appear in court because the celebrities didn’t want to pay what everyone has to pay: taxes. Sometimes it’s for small amounts compared to their enormous incomes that the figureheads of the republic risk their reputations – and even their liberties.
Most recently it hit Alfons Schuhbeck. He cooked for Bayern Munich, the Beatles, Chancellor Angela Merkel and even Queen Elizabeth II. Schuhbeck was a chef, entrepreneur and TV star. No one was more famous in his industry – now Schuhbeck is also notorious. The Munich district court has just sentenced him to three years in prison for tax evasion of 2.3 million euros. Schuhbeck has appealed.
Schuhbeck is not alone. Tennis millionaire Boris Becker hid his money from the Treasury, soccer demigod Uli Hoeneß didn’t pay his taxes, and in 2008 former Post boss Klaus Zumwinkel had to experience public shame when tax investigators searched his villa. His reputation was gone – for the price of one million euros.
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At Handelsblatt Crime we are talking about the most well-known tax evaders in Germany today. Why celebrities like Schuhbeck and Zumwinkel cheated the tax authorities, how this came about – and what the consequences were. A little spoiler: Sometimes the penalties for the offenses were strangely mild. The reasons for this are also a topic for our investigative reporters.
Handelsblatt Crime appears every 14 days and can be heard wherever there are podcasts.
More: You can hear the previous episode of Handelsblatt Crime here.