DIETRICH MATESCHITZ

MAY 20, 1944 - OCTOBER 22,

2022

The other half of a dynamic flying duo with Sigfried “Sigi” Angerer, Dietrich “Didi” Mateschitz changed the face of marketing in beverages, sports and aviation as the co-founder of Red Bull GmbH, as well as the Flying Bulls. Born in Austria in 1944, Didi was passionate about extreme sports from an early age. After earning his marketing degree from the Vienna University of Economics and Business, Didi worked for a German cosmetics company, Blendax, and while on a trip to Thailand, fate struck. To combat jet lag, Didi bought a bottle of Krating Daeng, the drink that would later become Red Bull, declaring "one glass [of Krating Daeng] and the jet lag was gone". Didi realized the drinks potential, consequently kicking off an entirely new beverage category in the Western World, the energy drink. In 1987, he formed Red Bull in Austria with Thai businessman, Chaleo Yoovidhya, and set about creating a market. The company focused on adventure sports including surfing, Formula 1, off-road racing, cycling and aviation, with the Flying Bulls. Living Legends of Aviation – EU has been greatly enhanced by the genius of Didi and Sigi, with participants experiencing the excitement of the Flying Bulls over the shimmering Lake Wolfgangsee, the region both Red Bull and Didi called home. Among his many adventures, aviation was a deep passion. Didi held a pilot's license and enjoyed flying a Falcon 900 and a Piper Super Cub. Didi was very proud of the beautiful Hangar 7 and Hangar 8 aviation center and museum he created with Sigi at Salzburg Airport.