Angela Merkel
Born 1954 · Age 71
German politician and scientist; Chancellor of Germany 2005–2021, long-serving leader of the CDU and a central figure in EU politics.
Compare Your Trajectory
See how your career milestones stack up against Angela Merkel and other industry leaders.
Life & Career Timeline
Family moved to East Germany (Quitzow)
A few weeks/months after her birth the family relocated to Quitzow in what became East Germany after her father accepted a pastorate.
Born in Hamburg (Angela Dorothea Kasner)
Born Angela Dorothea Kasner in the Eimsbüttel quarter of Hamburg to Horst and Herlind Kasner.
Family moved to Templin
The Kasner family moved to Templin where Merkel grew up north of East Berlin.
Joined the Young Pioneers
Became a member of the state youth organisation (Young Pioneers) customary for East German children.
Joined Free German Youth (FDJ)
Joined the FDJ (Freie Deutsche Jugend), the official East German youth organisation, a near-universal step for those pursuing higher education.
Completed Abitur (top grade)
Finished secondary education in Templin with the best possible Abitur grade (1.0).
Started physics studies at Leipzig University
Enrolled at Karl Marx University (University of Leipzig) to study physics (1973–1978).
Married Ulrich Merkel
Married fellow physics student Ulrich Merkel; kept his surname after their later divorce.
Joined Central Institute for Physical Chemistry (Berlin-Adlershof)
Began professional scientific work as a member of the academic staff at the Academy of Sciences (1978–1990).
Declined to become Stasi informant for an assistant post
Reportedly refused to agree to reporting on colleagues (anecdote from late studies/early career), turning down an assignment tied to Stasi recruitment.
Divorced Ulrich Merkel
Divorced her first husband in 1982 but retained the Merkel name.
Awarded doctorate (Dr. rer. nat.) in quantum chemistry
Completed and defended doctoral thesis on quantum chemistry; published academic papers thereafter.
Travel and Russian language course (Donetsk)
Permitted to travel to West Germany for a congress and attended a multi-week Russian course in Donetsk, USSR.
Joined Democratic Awakening (Demokratischer Aufbruch)
Became active in the new democracy movement and joined the DA following the peaceful revolution.
Fall of the Berlin Wall (catalyst)
The 1989 revolutions and the fall of the Berlin Wall prompted Merkel's sudden shift from science to politics.
Appointed press spokeswoman for Democratic Awakening
Named press spokesperson for Democratic Awakening (Feb 1990).
DA merged with East German CDU
In April 1990 Democratic Awakening merged into the East German CDU as the political landscape reorganised prior to reunification.
Joined the Christian Democratic Union (CDU)
Formally joined the CDU (August 1990) ahead of German reunification.
Elected Member of the Bundestag
Won a seat representing Stralsund – Rügen – Grimmen (first post-reunification federal election), entering national politics.
Appointed Federal Minister for Women and Youth
Appointed by Chancellor Helmut Kohl to the federal cabinet (18 Jan 1991).
Ran for CDU state leadership in Brandenburg (lost)
Sought the state leadership of the CDU in Brandenburg (Nov 1991) but was defeated by Ulf Fink.
Elected Deputy Chairwoman of the CDU
Elected deputy chairwoman of the federal CDU (role held during 1991–1998), raising her national profile.
Elected Chairwoman of CDU Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Succeeded Günther Krause as CDU leader in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (June 1993).
Appointed Federal Minister for the Environment
Promoted to Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (17 Nov 1994).
Co-led/hosted UN 1995 Berlin Climate Change Conference
Played an instrumental role in the 1995 UN conference in Berlin that produced the first international commitment to reduce greenhouse gases.
CDU defeated in federal election
The CDU/CSU lost the 1998 federal election and Gerhard Schröder (SPD) became Chancellor; marked the end of Kohl-era government.
Elected General Secretary of the CDU
Became Secretary-General of the CDU (7 Nov 1998) in the post-Kohl period, tasked with party renewal.
Married Joachim Sauer
Married Joachim Sauer, a quantum chemistry professor (30 Dec 1998).
Led CDU to state election successes (1999)
Oversaw a string of CDU victories in six of seven state elections in 1999, restoring party momentum after 1998 defeat.
Open letter calling for fresh start without Kohl
Publicly criticised mentor Helmut Kohl over the CDU donations scandal and called for new direction (22 Dec 1999).
Elected Chairwoman of the CDU (first woman to lead a major German party)
Became leader of the CDU on 10 April 2000, the party's first female leader and first non-Catholic in the role.
Wolfratshausen Breakfast agreement (ceded chancellor candidacy to Stoiber)
Private negotiation in which Merkel agreed that CSU leader Edmund Stoiber would be the CDU/CSU candidate for chancellor in 2002 in exchange for parliamentary leadership.
Leader of the Opposition / CDU/CSU parliamentary group leader
Following the 2002 election, Merkel became Leader of the Opposition and head of the CDU/CSU Bundestag group (22 Sep 2002).
Public stance in favour of Iraq War (controversial)
In spring 2003 Merkel publicly supported the US-led invasion of Iraq (later disputed), a position significant for foreign policy alignment.
Won CDU/CSU nomination to challenge Gerhard Schröder
Secured the CDU/CSU nomination for chancellor candidate on 30 May 2005.
Televised debate gaffe (gross vs net confusion)
During the 2005 campaign Merkel mistakenly confused gross and net income twice on television, briefly denting her economic credibility.
Elected Chancellor of Germany (first woman and first former East German)
The Bundestag elected Merkel Chancellor on 22 November 2005; she led a grand coalition (CDU/CSU and SPD).
President of the European Council (first half of 2007)
Served as rotating President of the European Council in first half of 2007; central to finalising the Treaty of Lisbon and the Berlin Declaration.
Hosted 33rd G8 summit at Heiligendamm
Germany under Merkel hosted G8 leaders in Heiligendamm (June 2007).
Managed response to 2008 global financial crisis
Merkel's government negotiated EU stimulus and coordinated measures to stabilise financial markets and the Euro area.
Blocked NATO enlargement for Ukraine and Georgia (Bucharest Summit)
At the 2008 Bucharest Summit Merkel played a prominent role in blocking immediate NATO membership for Georgia and Ukraine.
CDU largest party in 2009 federal election; formed coalition with FDP
CDU/CSU obtained the largest share of the vote in 2009; Merkel formed a coalition government with the FDP.
Major domestic reforms (healthcare, Bundeswehr), energy policy shift
Merkel government undertook Bundeswehr reforms, health-care measures and her Energiewende energy transition policies.
Awarded US Presidential Medal of Freedom
Received the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of international leadership (2011).
Announced phaseout of nuclear power (post-Fukushima)
Following Fukushima, Merkel announced a reversal of prior policy and committed Germany to phasing out nuclear power (9 June 2011).
CDU landslide 2013 election; formed second grand coalition
CDU-CSU won nearly 42% in Sep 2013; after FDP crashed out, Merkel formed a grand coalition with SPD and became a three-time chancellor.
Russian annexation of Crimea / sanctions leadership
After Russia annexed Crimea in March 2014, Merkel led EU efforts to coordinate sanctions and diplomatic responses.
Named Time Person of the Year
Time magazine named Merkel 'Person of the Year' in recognition of her international role (2015).
European migrant crisis; 'Wir schaffen das' and opening Germany's borders
In 2015 Merkel adopted an open-door policy for refugees; over 1.0–1.3 million migrants entered Germany in 2015–2016 (commonly cited ~1.1 million in 2015 alone).
Won fourth term in 2017 federal election
Merkel led the CDU to remain the largest party in the 2017 election, ultimately resulting in a third grand coalition after long negotiations.
SPD ratified coalition; Merkel secured fourth term (coalition finalised)
After post-election negotiations, SPD members approved the coalition in March 2018, enabling Merkel's fourth term to continue.
Announced she would step down as CDU leader and not seek re-election as party head
Following poor regional results and internal pressure, Merkel announced she would step down as CDU leader and not seek a fifth chancellorship.
Stepped down as CDU leader
Officially relinquished CDU leadership on 7 December 2018; Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer succeeded her.
Protected Nord Stream 2 project from U.S. sanctions (policy involvement)
Despite criticism following 2014 Crimea annexation, Merkel defended and helped protect the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline; confronted US sanctions in 2019.
Harvard Commencement speaker; awarded honorary degree
Delivered Harvard Commencement address and was awarded an honorary degree (May 30, 2019).
COVID-19 pandemic response
Led Germany's federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic; government measures widely seen as comparatively successful in early stages.
Did not stand in 2021 federal election; CDU/CSU poor result (24.1%)
Merkel did not seek a fifth term. The CDU/CSU received its worst-ever combined result (~24.1%) in the Sept 2021 election without her on the ballot.
Left the Bundestag
Merkel's membership of the Bundestag ended on 26 October 2021, closing a 31-year parliamentary career.
Stepped down as Chancellor; Olaf Scholz succeeded
Merkel's chancellorship ended on 8 December 2021 when Olaf Scholz was sworn in; Merkel left office after 16 years.
Russian invasion of Ukraine prompts scrutiny of Merkel's legacy
Following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Merkel's earlier Russia policies (including Nord Stream engagement) came under greater scrutiny globally.
Cultural portrayal: 'Miss Merkel' TV adaptation popularity
Post-chancellorship cultural interest: TV series 'Miss Merkel' (adapted from novels) aired and drew viewership in Germany and abroad (2023).
Awarded Germany's top order of merit (special Großkreuz)
Received a special issue of the Grand Cross (Großkreuz) first class, Germany's top order of merit, for her contributions as chancellor (April 2023).
Estimated net worth reported (~$11.5M)
Media estimates (e.g., Investopedia) list Merkel's net worth at roughly $11.5 million (2024 estimate based on salary, book deals, speaking fees, awards).
Memoir 'Freedom' published
Published memoir 'Freedom' (cowritten with Beate Baumann), a detailed account of her life and political career (released November 2024).
Key Achievement Ages
Explore what Angela Merkel and others achieved at these notable ages:
Similar Trajectories
John Katzman
Born 1959 · Age 66
American education technology entrepreneur; founder of The Princeton Review, 2U, and Noodle; author and long-time edtech investor and board member.
Satoru Iwata
Born 1959 · Age 66
Japanese video game programmer, producer and businessman; 4th president of Nintendo (2002–2015). Led Nintendo through the DS/Wii era and championed 'blue ocean' strategies and quality-of-life initiatives.
Dan Gillmor
Born 1959 · Age 66
American technology writer, columnist, author and educator known for pioneering journalism blogging, founding citizen-journalism projects, authoring We the Media, and directing digital media initiatives at Arizona State University.
Ira Glass
Born 1959 · Age 66
American public radio personality; host and creator of This American Life; influential editor/producer in narrative audio journalism.
Mary Meeker
Born 1959 · Age 66
American venture capitalist and former Wall Street securities analyst; founder and general partner of BOND (Bond Capital). Known for annual Internet Trends reports and investments in major tech companies.
Brian Roberts
Born 1959 · Age 66
American businessman and billionaire; chairman and CEO of Comcast; son of Comcast founder Ralph J. Roberts. Led Comcast through major acquisitions and expansion into broadband, media and international markets; active philanthropist and industry leader.