Besides being popular for beautiful landscapes and its enthralling culture and history, Bavaria is also the birthplace of some extraordinary individuals and brands that have made an impact on the world. These famous Bavarians, whose influence has transcended borders, have made a significant mark on the world stage.
From automotive giants to sporting legends and influential thinkers, the Bavarian spirit of innovation and quality resonates across the globe. In this article, we’ll explore 20 icons with Bavarian roots that have made an impact on the world.
1. Audi (Luxury Automobile Brand)
Founded in: Ingolstadt, Bavaria
Renowned for engineering excellence and sleek design, Audi is one of the world’s premier automakers – and a proud part of Bavaria’s automotive legacy. Audi’s roots trace back to August Horch, the founder of A.Horch & Cie.
He established the Audi Automobilwerke brand in Zwickau and the first Audi car was produced there in 1910. Since then, Audi has grown into a powerhouse in the automotive sector, known around the world both for its aesthetics and use of cutting edge technology.
2. BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke)
Founded in: Munich, Bavaria
“Bavarian Motor Works” isn’t just a brand – it’s a Bavarian icon, synonymous with performance, prestige, and precision engineering. First formally founded in 1916 under the name Bayerische Flugzeugwerke AG, it was later renamed Bayerische Motoren Werke in 1922.
As a global leader in the automotive industry, BMW represents unique Bavarian craftsmanship, showing off quality engineering and style. You can explore the history of the brand through a tour of the exhibits of various models in the BMW museum in Munich. You can also get an interactive experience of current models at the BMW Welt close by.
3. Sandra Bullock (Oscar-winning Actress)
Raised in: Nuremberg, Bavaria
Sandra Bullock may be Hollywood royalty, but her early life in Bavaria – and her fluent German – surprise many fans. In fact, she has German roots on both sides, as her father was an American of German descent and her mother was a German opera singer.
Due to her mother’s career, Sandra often performed in many productions that her mother was in, getting her start on the stage early in her youth. Most of her childhood was spent in the Bavarian city of Nuremberg before her family moved back to America where she grew up to become the film star she is today.
4. Adolf & Rudolf Dassler (Adidas & Puma)
From: Herzogenaurach, Bavaria
Two brothers. One small Bavarian town. Two of the most powerful global sports brands ever created – born from a sibling rivalry that changed the athletic world forever. Adidas was formed by Adolf “Adi” Dassler. It has since grown into one of the most popular sportswear brands worldwide, with its three-striped logo that’s instantly recognisable anywhere. Adidas offers athletic footwear and apparel, as well as lifestyle products, donned by many popular athletes and influencing popular culture.
Puma, launched by Adolf’s brother, Rudolf, also grew into a major international sportswear brand, growing more popular through collaborations with top athletes and designs.
Despite the rivalry that led to the birth of both brands (to the point that some employees were even being forbidden from marrying those of the opposing company), Adidas and Puma have both since grown into global leaders in the sports industry.
5. Albrecht Dürer (Renaissance Artist & Theorist)
From: Nuremberg, Bavaria
A true art world legend, Dürer is considered one of the greatest artists of the Northern Renaissance. His hometown of Nuremberg still honours his legacy.
His work includes religious pieces, prints, portraits, woodcuts, and copper engravings such as The Apocalypse series (1498). Dürer’s fame generally stems from his work showing great detail and accuracy, marking him as one of the world’s greatest artists.
6. Hannelore Elsner (Actress & German Cinema Icon)
From: Burghausen, Bavaria
A national treasure in Germany and recognised internationally for her poignant, elegant screen presence. A lifelong Bavarian who brought glamour to German film.
Hannelore’s first appearance on stage was at the Kammerspiele and Kleine Komodie, following acting classes in Munich. In 1959, she made her first on-screen appearance and from then on graced several sets, making many film and television appearances, in addition to her Bavarian cinema work.
7. Werner Herzog (Director & Filmmaker)
From: Munich, Bavaria
A trailblazer of New German Cinema, Herzog is acclaimed for his visionary storytelling in films like Grizzly Man and Aguirre, the Wrath of God – and continues to influence directors worldwide.
Born in Munich in 1942, Herzog spent his early childhood in a remote Bavarian mountain village. These years shaped his worldview and influenced much of his cinematic style, which can be seen in his films. His work in film development began from the young age of 15, while he was working as a welder to finance the development of his film projects. He started work on his first film Herakles at the age of 19 in 1961.
Through films like Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972), Woyzeck (1979), and the documentary film, My Best Friend (1999), Herzog established his worldwide fame.
8. Jonas Kaufmann (Opera Superstar)
From: Munich, Bavaria
A tenor who fills concert halls from Milan to New York, Kaufmann is a vocal powerhouse – and a Munich-born ambassador for classical music. He received his initial vocal training in Munich and later began his career at the Bavarian State Opera, which further opened doors for him to step onto international stages.
Kaufmann is popularly known for his ability to perform various opera roles in multiple languages. Some of those include his role as Don José in Carmen, Maurizio in Adriana Lecouvreur and many other standout roles.
9. Henry Kissinger (Nobel Laureate & U.S. Secretary of State)
From: Fürth, Bavaria
A key figure in global politics, Kissinger’s roots in Bavaria add a poignant layer to his rise as a diplomat who helped shape 20th-century world affairs. In addition to being one of the most famous diplomats in the U.S., Kissinger was also the only German-born one.
One of his most notable achievements was the Nobel Peace Prize he was awarded along with Le Duc Tho for negotiating a ceasefire in Vietnam in 1973.
10. Diane Kruger (Actress)
Trained in: Munich’s Royal Ballet School
She starred in Troy and Inglourious Basterds – but before all that, she was mastering dance in Bavaria. Born in Algermissen, near Hildesheim, she pursued ballet until a knee injury ended her career.
When she returned to Germany, she became a top fashion model, before switching to acting and relocating to Paris. Since then she’s won the 2017 Cannes Best Actress Award, along with several other accolades, marking her place on the global stage.
11. Ludwig II of Bavaria (The Fairytale King)
From: Munich, Bavaria
Built Neuschwanstein Castle – the real-life inspiration for Disney’s castles. His romantic, eccentric vision shaped Bavaria’s global fairytale image.
Recognised as the most famous Bavarian king, Ludwig II’s eccentricity gave rise to many innovative devices as well in Germany, such as the electrically-lit sleigh, an automatic flush toilet, a dinner table that could be mechanically lowered and raised, and a unique heating system, among many others.
12. Bernhard Langer (Professional Golfer)
From: Anhausen, Bavaria
A two-time Masters champion and former world number one, Langer brought Bavarian precision to the global golf scene – and is still winning on the senior tour. Born in Anhausen, he turned professional in 1972, racking up many achievements in Europe and the United States.
Some of his most notable wins include the two-time Master championships in 1985 and 1993, as well as 42 wins on the European tour and many others. Now known as an inspiration to many young golfers, Langer also serves as a mentor to some.
13. Thomas Müller (Footballer, FC Bayern Munich & World Cup winner)
From: Weilheim in Oberbayern, Bavaria
A Bayern Munich and Germany legend – known globally for his World Cup-winning skill, charm and wit. He was born in Weilheim and raised in Pahl, a small village that’s southwest of Munich.
Since joining the Bayern academy at the age of 10, Muller has grown into a club legend whose football career is intricately intertwined with his Bavarian roots. Having played over 700 matches for Bayern, he’s recognised as a symbol of Bavarian football excellence.
14. Kim Petras (Grammy-winning Pop Star)
Career launched in: Bavaria
A boundary-breaking artist and pop trailblazer, Petras got her start in the Bavarian music scene before reaching global superstardom. Although born outside the state, Petras was raised in a region close to the border of Bavaria, giving her a connection to Bavarian heritage and culture.
In 2023, Petras made history alongside Sam Smith when the duo became the first non-binary and transgender artists to win a Grammy award for best Pop Duo/Group performance.
15. Wilhelm Röntgen (Discovered X-rays)
Lived and worked in: Würzburg, Bavaria
The man who saw inside the human body for the first time – and changed medicine forever – did it in Bavaria. At the time of his discovery, he was a physics professor at the University of Wurzburg in Bavaria.
His discovery went on to become an essential diagnostic tool in radiology and led to a revolution in medicine. For this groundbreaking innovation, Rontgen was awarded the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901. Even streets were named after him in honour of his discovery.
16. Claudia Schiffer (Supermodel & Fashion Icon)
From: Rheinberg, launched career in Munich
Once the highest-paid model in the world, she became a global sensation thanks in part to her Bavarian fashion beginnings. Although she initially aspired to be a lawyer, her quick rise through the fashion ranks as the face of the 1989 Guess campaign altered those plans.
Schiffer made it big, despite being born in a small town in Germany, holding the Guinness World Record as the first to have more than 1,000 magazine covers. Her career has since expanded to books, beauty, film, art, and homeware, thanks to her business prowess.
17. Werner von Siemens (Founder of Siemens AG)
Legacy based in: Munich, Bavaria
Siemens has powered everything from light bulbs to MRI scanners – and it all grew from Bavarian soil. While he wasn’t born in Bavaria, the German electrical engineer, inventor, and industrialist established a significant presence in the state through the founding of his company, Siemens & Halske.
The visionary entrepreneur brought about many advances in the electrical goods industry. His work led to the adoption of his name as the SI unit of electrical conductance, the siemens. Among his many notable inventions are the electric tram, electric locomotive, electric elevator, and the trolley bus.
18. Richard Strauss (Composer & Conductor)
From: Munich, Bavaria
One of the most influential composers of the 20th century, Strauss created sweeping symphonic works and operas that are performed in the world’s most prestigious concert halls. Thanks to his father’s career as a prominent musician at the Court Opera, Strauss had a strong musical foundation from a young age.
He rose through the ranks, starting with different positions within the Bavarian State Opera, and later went on to compose popular operas such as Salome, Elektra, and Der Rosenkavalier.
19. Levi Strauss (Founder of Levi’s)
From: Buttenheim, Bavaria
The man who invented blue jeans and revolutionised fashion was a Bavarian émigré who struck denim gold in California. Born Löb Strauss in Buttenheim, Bavaria, he moved to the United States where he launched Levi Strauss & Co, initially as a wholesale dry goods business.
In partnership with one of his clients, Jacob Davis, Levi patented a new clothing idea that later became known as the durable denim pants well-loved to this day and now known as jeans. This invention revolutionised workwear and evolved into a global fashion staple that continues to be celebrated and loved to this day.
20. Richard Wagner (Composer)
Legacy rooted in: Bayreuth, Bavaria
One of history’s most influential composers, Wagner built his own theatre in Bavaria. His work lives on in the world-famous Bayreuth Festival.
Wagner’s operas and music had a profound impact on Western music, with some of his major works as The Flying Dutchman (1843), Tristan and Isolde (1865), and Parsifal (1882). Despite a tumultuous history, Wagner built his career up into one worthy of note with great influence far beyond the borders of Bavaria.
Famous Bavarians: Final Word
Bavaria has birthed many influential figures and global brands that continue to shape many industries today. From pioneering entrepreneurs to iconic automobiles and traditional attire, the Bavarian influence is palpable around the world.
As we celebrate these famous Bavarians, we also recognise the enduring legacy of Bavaria, a place where tradition meets innovation, creating a lasting impact on a global stage. While this is only a glimpse into the many icons with Bavarian roots that have left an indelible mark on the world, it reflects the great impact of the German state.
Curious to see more of this remarkable place that has been the start of many great icons? Book a hotel in Munich city centre – click here!
