Johann von Bodeck

Born as a son of a Protestant migrant from Antwerp, Johann von Bodeck became the first “gulden millionaire” of Frankfurt.

Johann von Bodeck made his fortune in the copper trade and in loans to German territorial rulers. At Frankfurt-am-Main Johann founded a banking house in the partnership with his mother and brother, Hans Scholier (1547-1613). He is considered the first great Frankfurt banker and co-founder of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. His business interest covered all sorts of activities, from mining, smelting, money-changing and banking to the dispatch in all directions of both European and tropical goods. He also had agents at Venice, Seville, Amsterdam and Hamburg.

With the assets of his mother, John owned about 400,000 guilders in late 1606 which was considered an immense fortune. In addition to many possessions around Frankfurt (including the manor in Praunheim, the House of the Golden Bear at the Roßmarkt and other large town houses), Antwerp (several large town houses), Amsterdam and Mainz (Good Nierstein) he acquired large estates that were owned by several generations.

He was buried on August 4, 1631 in St. Peter's Cemetery in Frankfurt.