Background and career
Wilhelmus Gerardus Stephanus Maria van der Leegte (23 August 1947 – 19 November 2023) was a Dutch billionaire businessman, and the owner of Netherlands-based VDL Groep.
Wim van der Leegte was born in Nuenen on 23 August 1947. VDL Groep, one of Europe's largest privately held car and bus makers, was founded in 1953 by his father Pieter van der Leegte, when it started making parts for trucking companies. In January 2016, VDL announced that Van der Leegte would be step down in November, after 44 years as a president since 1972.
Van der Leegte was married with three children and lived in Eindhoven, Netherlands. His three children: Pieter, Jennifer and Willem, are all members of the executive board, and own shares in the company. Together, they own 100% of VDL Groep. Wim van der Leegte died on 19 November 2023, at the age of 76.
Sources
Net-worth figure: Celebrity Net Worth (October 2026), in USD. Biography and career facts: the person's Wikipedia article and linked reporting. Snapshot date for all StarWorth figures: 28 October 2026.
