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By Matthias Knab

Reinhold Messner, the renowned Italian mountaineer who first conquered Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen, is now navigating treacherous terrain in his personal life. As he celebrates his 80th birthday, Messner finds himself embroiled in a bitter inheritance dispute with his children, a conflict that threatens to overshadow his legendary climbing career.

Financial experts estimate his assets at around 30-37 million euros.

The dispute has escalated to the point where Messner, in an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, made startling accusations against his children. "Now they hope I lose my mind so they can incapacitate me," he claimed, suggesting a deep rift in what was once presumed to be a close- knit family.

Failed as a husband and as a father

In a candid moment, Messner reflected on his life choices, admitting that he had "failed as a husband and as a father." For six decades, he traversed the globe, undertaking more than 100 expeditions, undeterred by the needs of his then-wife or children. "It was my life," he stated, acknowledging that while he never fell as a mountaineer, he had stumbled several times in his personal life.

Indeed, the mountaineer's personal life has seen significant changes in recent years. Adding another layer to the family discord, Messner revealed in the La Repubblica interview that his second wife, Sabine, separated from him five years ago, describing it as "the most difficult moment in my life."

This personal setback, combined with the inheritance dispute, paints a picture of a man grappling with significant personal challenges in his later years.

Messner is now married to his third wife, Diane Schumacher, a Luxembourger living in Munich who is nearly 36 years his junior. They met in August 2018 at an event at Messner's Bruneck Castle in South Tyrol and married in 2021. This new chapter in Messner's life seems to have further complicated family dynamics.

New business structures disrupt old relations

The family's business interests have also been a source of tension. Messner's children, particularly daughter Magdalena and son Simon, have been deeply involved in managing and growing the family's ventures. Magdalena oversees the company operating the five Messner Mountain Museums in South Tyrol, while Simon was responsible for the Messner Mountain Movie production company. Their efforts, along with those of Messner's second wife, Sabine Stehle, have been instrumental in growing the family's estimated wealth to between 30 and 37 million euros.

However, recent changes have seen Diane Schumacher take on a more prominent role in managing Messner's legacy. In 2020, the couple founded "Messner Mountain Heritage GmbH" in Munich, which reportedly earned a profit of 473,000 euros in its second year of operation. Schumacher has also acquired a 50% stake in the "Messner Mountain Movie" production company, leading to Simon Messner's withdrawal from the firm to avoid public conflict with his father.

Simon Messner, speaking on behalf of his siblings, has contested his father's public narrative and described his father's public statements as "a shame and sad". He maintains that there is no dispute among the siblings over their inheritance, expressing gratitude for the real estate assets their father has transferred to them. He sees no direct connection between the transfer of assets and the family's estrangement, suggesting that the breakdown occurred gradually and for other reasons.

Simon takes offense at his father going public instead of communicating with the family, the South Tyrolean weekly magazine FF says the divide is more or less uniform between the "old family" and the father and his new wife.

Being the child of a legend

However, Simon Messner acknowledges the challenges of being "the son of a legend," a sentiment that resonates with many children of highly successful individuals.

The disconnect between public persona and private family life is further illustrated by Simon's revelation that he wasn't even invited to his father's third wedding. The age difference between Reinhold's new wife and Simon's sister has been a point of contention, though Simon acknowledges his father's unwavering nature: "But he's Reinhold. When he sets his mind to something, he does it."

Despite these difficulties, Messner appears to be channeling his experiences into his work. His new book, aptly titled "Headwind," is set to be published on August 29th. In it, he reportedly reflects on his life's journey, including these recent personal struggles.

The dispute has brought to light the challenges of legacy planning, even for those of considerable achievement and means. Messner, who was the first person to climb all 14 peaks over 8,000 meters and made groundbreaking ascents throughout his career, now faces a challenge that his mountaineering expertise cannot solve. His path to family reconciliation appears as challenging as any mountain he has faced.

Balancing professional pursuits with family responsibilities

As this unfortunate family drama continues to unfold in the public eye, it serves as a cautionary tale for high-achieving individuals, illustrating the importance of balancing professional pursuits with family responsibilities. Even those who have conquered the world's highest peaks or greatness in their field are not immune to the complexities of personal relationships and estate planning.

The resolution of such conflicts, much like Messner's mountaineering feats, will require far-sightedness, planning, perseverance, and perhaps a willingness to navigate uncharted territory in family relationships.