About
Nils Glagau is a German entrepreneur, investor and television personality best known for steering Orthomol — a leading micronutrient‑supplement company — and for handing out deals on the VOX start‑up show “Die Höhle der Löwen.” Born on 31 October 1975 in Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, he took over the family business in 2009 after the sudden death of his father, company founder Dr. Kristian Glagau. Today Orthomol employs almost 500 people and reports annual sales above €150 million, making it one of Germany’s biggest names in the supplement sector.
Beyond the boardroom, Glagau built a public profile as a “Lion” on the German version of Shark Tank. He joined the panel in 2019 and quickly became the calm counter‑voice to some of the show’s louder personalities, investing chiefly in consumer‑health products and sports‑related start‑ups.
Before Fame
Although he grew up helping with packing orders in the Orthomol garage, Glagau’s first love was far from commerce. He studied ethnology with a focus on Latin American studies at the University of Bonn, learning indigenous languages and immersing himself in field research. During breaks from lectures he worked on archaeological digs among Maya ruins in Mexico and Honduras, an experience he still calls “life‑changing.”
After graduating, he attempted to become a restaurateur, opening a Mexican restaurant in Bonn and still traveling around South and Central America. During these years, he claims, he learned to be adaptable, inquisitive and fond of calculated risk — qualities that would subsequently inform his investment philosophy.
Trivia
- Archaeology enthusiast: Glagau remains part of field trips when he can and funds conservation projects in Central America.
- Sports fan: Orthomol was Fortuna Düsseldorf’s front‑of‑shirt sponsor for the 2017/18 season and provides supplements to Germany’s national ice‑hockey teams — a natural addition to his own passion for tennis, basketball and running.
- Rock B(r)and: With this brand he supports start-ups that “rock a category” and have the potential to become powerful consumer brands; several of his TV deals find their way into that portfolio.
- Estimated fortune: German media estimated his net worth at around €30 million, drawn mainly from dividends and equity in Orthomol.
- Favourite mantra: “Nobody can do everything” — a reminder, he says, to assemble teams that cover each other’s weaknesses, not pursue heroics on your own.
Family Life
Family is central to Glagau’s story. His father Kristian co‑founded Orthomol in 1991 after a chance airport conversation about micronutrients, and his unexpected passing in 2009 thrust Nils, then just 33, into the CEO’s chair. He now runs the company alongside long‑time managing director Michael Schmidt, keeping the firm entirely in family hands.
Away from cameras he keeps a low profile. Glagau is married and the proud father of twin daughters, but he declines to share their names or photos, insisting the girls enjoy a childhood untouched by television fame. In interviews he jokes that the twins are unimpressed by dad’s prime‑time presence and prefer cartoons to start‑up pitches.
Associated With
During six years on “Die Höhle der Löwen,” Glagau invested shoulder‑to‑shoulder with fellow Lions Ralf Dümmel, Judith Williams, Dagmar Wöhrl, Carsten Maschmeyer, Janna Ensthaler, Tijen Onaran and others. Viewers appreciated his calm, data‑driven approach, and founders gravitated toward his health‑industry know‑how.
In June 2025 he announced that season 17 would be his last, ending an eleven‑season run to refocus on Orthomol’s global expansion and his own investment vehicles. His departure coincides with the exits of fellow Lions Tijen Onaran and Tillman Schulz, marking the biggest shake‑up in the show’s history since its launch.
Glagau says he leaves with gratitude, hundreds of new business partners and a reinforced belief that “good ideas thrive where purpose and perseverance cross paths.” Fans suspect the quiet Lion will be back on screen sooner or later — but for now he is happy swapping studio lights for the Orthomol factory floor and, occasionally, a dusty dig site under the Central American sun.
