Ms Mohn rose to power at Bertelsmann via her marriage to Reinhard Mohn, whose family founded it in 1835.

ECONOMIST: Face value

Mr Mohn believed that professional managers, not family members, should run the firm.

ECONOMIST: Face value

But the recent travails of other media firms, such as Time Warner, and Vivendi under Jean-Marie Messier, changed Mr Mohn's mind somewhat.

ECONOMIST: Face value

By comparison, Liz Mohn, who wields power on behalf of the controlling family at Bertelsmann, Europe's biggest media company, is an unknown.

ECONOMIST: Face value

Mohn, 76, holds one golden share that controls all voting shares.

FORBES: Europe

Thomas Middelhoff, its chief executive until 2002, had wanted to take Bertelsmann public, but Reinhard Mohn and his family, the dominant shareholders, have always been unenthusiastic.

ECONOMIST: German companies

Second wife and now widow of Reinhard Mohn.

FORBES: The Richest Women at Davos