Billionaire kills himself over financial crisis

[Blue Diadem]

BERLIN - German billionaire Adolf Merckle has committed suicide after his business empire, which included interests ranging from pharmaceuticals to cement, ran into trouble in the global financial crisis, his family said Tuesday.

The 74-year-old's body was found Monday night near railway tracks at Blaubeuren in southwestern Germany, prosecutors in nearby Ulm said in a statement. They described the death as a "railway accident" and said there was no evidence that anyone else was to blame.

His family, which had reported Merckle missing after he failed to return home Monday, issued a brief statement saying he took his own life.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28522036/

Forbes estimated his wealth to be $9.2 Billion last year.

[bunnies]

1. He'd rather die than live like the rest of us?

Doesnt that just say it all.

[Blue Diadem]

3. Amazing isn't it?

Some of them are really truly terrified of living like the rest of us.

[bdamomma]

5. these people can't do without.

while we can live without.

[Greyhound]

7. None of them want to be subjected to the world they've made for the rest of us. n/t

[depakid]

11. More likely it's shame of having let people down

and guilt over having lost a lot of their money or cost them their jobs.

Basic human emotions that knock on the doors of the rich and poor alike.

[Deja Q]

2. He didn't want to live seeing all the people he's help put into misery?

Poor baby.

Wait, he's already 74. What should we do, hope for a stroke instead?

[graywarrior]

4. Yawn.

Who cares. Now if it was Cheney....

[arcadian]

6. I'm gonna call bullshit on this one.

n/t

[Mike 03]

12. I agree. There's something suspicious about this. The guy's in his 70s, and

even though he may have lost a lot of money, he's still certainly got enough to live comfortably on.

If it was conscience--and I would respect that--it would be odd for it to strike him now. If indeed it is guilt, I wonder what he was guilty of? Did he cheat his clients or something? Is this another Madoff situation or something else?

[depakid]

13. "what he was guilty of?"

Have you ever had to lay people off?

Even though they were accomplished at their jobs?

Let me tell you, it's a guilt inducing experience. Not saying that's what the case is of course- suicide is complicated, but as long as we're speculating....

[Mike 03]

18. Thank you for filling me in. I have been layed off twice.

I just don't know the whole story yet. I just saw it on the wire two hours ago.

[onethatcares]

8. why would it be an "accident"?

so the insurers would pay double indemnity? It's either a suicide or a railway accident. Standing in front of the local 43 is not an accident in my book of thought.

[MagickMuffin]

9. I guess it was easier to throw himself in front of a train

instead of throwing himself before the Mercy of the Court.

COWARD!

[ThisThreadIsSatire]

10. Wish I could say, "POOR Bastard"

... but I guess he couldn't wait any longer.

[Deja Q]

14. At age 74, it was win/win for him. As if he cared.

May the jury take an orgy-worthy group urination session on his bones.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

15. Who benefits?

Who gets his (reduced, but still vast) fortune?

Suicide? Accident? maybe

[Stevenmarc]

16. Gee,

I hope he didn't make the train late.

[Selatius]

17. When the mighty fall, they fall hard, don't they?

I guess living like mere mortals was too much for him to bear.

[Dukkha]

19. oh well

he had nothing to live for besides greed. a wasted life.