# Dietmar Hopp

> Dietmar Hopp is a German software engineer, SAP co-founder and former CEO whose later work centres on investing, regional philanthropy and sport. His foundation, established in 1995, supports projects in the Rhine-Neckar region; his backing helped his childhood football club, TSG Hoffenheim, reach the Bundesliga in 2008.

- **Role:** Founder of the Dietmar Hopp Foundation; co-founder and former CEO of SAP
- **Organizations:** SAP, Dietmar Hopp Foundation, TSG Hoffenheim, Anpfiff ins Leben, Golf Club St. Leon-Rot, Klimastiftung für Bürger
- **From:** Heidelberg, Germany
- **Nationality:** German
- **Education:** Diplom-Ingenieur in telecommunications engineering, University of Karlsruhe (now Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)
- **Known for:** Co-founded SAP in 1972 and helped build its enterprise software business., Led SAP as executive board spokesman from 1988 to 1998, sharing the role with Hasso Plattner from 1997., Founded a regional foundation that reported €1.4 billion distributed by September 2025.

## Career timeline

- **1940** — Born in Heidelberg; grew up in Hoffenheim.
- **1965** — Completed engineering degree, according to the foundation biography.
- **1966** — Began work as a systems consultant at IBM in Mannheim.
- **1972** — Co-founded SAP with Hasso Plattner, Klaus Tschira, Hans-Werner Hector and Claus Wellenreuther.
- **1988** — SAP went public; Hopp became its executive board spokesman.
- **1995** — Established the Dietmar Hopp Foundation in December.
- **1997** — Golf Club St. Leon-Rot officially opened; began sharing SAP board spokesman duties with Hasso Plattner.
- **1998** — Moved from SAP executive board to chair its supervisory board.
- **2001** — Co-founded Anpfiff ins Leben with Anton Nagl.
- **2003** — Ended his term as SAP supervisory board chairman.
- **2005** — Left the SAP supervisory board.
- **2008** — TSG Hoffenheim reached the Bundesliga with his backing.
- **2019** — The foundation-backed Klima Arena opened in Sinsheim in October.
- **2023** — Returned majority voting rights in Hoffenheim’s professional football company to the parent association.
- **2025** — Foundation marked thirty years, reporting €1.4 billion distributed in Rhine-Neckar.
- **2026** — Foundation announced up to €30 million for movement in everyday school life over the following years.

## Achievements

- Co-founded SAP in 1972 and helped build its enterprise software business.
- Led SAP as executive board spokesman from 1988 to 1998, sharing the role with Hasso Plattner from 1997.
- Founded a regional foundation that reported €1.4 billion distributed by September 2025.
- Backed TSG Hoffenheim’s rise to the Bundesliga in 2008.
- Supported 19 alla hopp! public movement and meeting spaces, built for €45 million between 2015 and 2017.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — The foundation reported participating in Rhine-Neckar volunteer days under the motto Wir schaffen was, in a post dated October 7.
- **2026-02** — The foundation announced up to €30 million over the coming years for schoolyards and teaching that incorporate movement into everyday school life.
- **2025-09** — The foundation’s thirtieth anniversary report recorded €1.4 billion distributed to regional charitable organisations and projects.

## Links

- Website: https://dietmar-hopp-stiftung.de/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/dietmar-hopp
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-20