The 'luxury' life of the richest dog in the world

German Shepherd Gunther IV is currently considered the richest dog in the world with a net worth of $375 million.

The world is full of pampered pets. According to the Oddity Central news site, among them are dogs belonging to the Gunther dog "family" who were lucky enough to inherit a fortune from a wealthy owner.

Chances of becoming a "Millionaire"

The story of the world's richest dog "family" began in 1991, when Countess Carlotta Reibenstein of Germany died. With no relatives to inherit her estate, the Countess decided to leave the entire estate to her pet dog, Gunther III.

Since then, Gunther III and his descendants have inherited a large fortune from Countess Reibenstein of Germany, making them the richest dog family on earth.

Interestingly, Gunther III inherited a fortune estimated at $100 million in the 1990s, but those responsible for managing it helped increase the fortune's value to nearly $100 million, which has since quadrupled.

Gunther IV, the descendant of Gunther III, is currently worth $375 million.

Gunther IV lives in a luxury villa in Miami (Florida, USA) with a full care staff including a maid and a personal butler.

The "pretty boys" serving Gunther IV dogs at the pool at their villa

The world's richest dog owns a 7,000-square-metre mansion, which he bought for $7.5 million from singer Madonna in 2000, according to news site Oddity Central.

Gunther IV primarily played in his master bedroom, while the rest of the house was rented out for filming.

Gunther IV also spends time swimming in the villa's pool, commuting in limousines, and enjoying delicious dishes such as prime steak, caviar, and bottled water...

Animals cannot own financial assets directly but can inherit assets through a pet trust set up by their owners, according to legal experts. The trustee decides how much and when the funds are used, while the primary caretaker is responsible for claiming these monies and is directly responsible for the dog's health. When it comes to cleaning, housekeepers are responsible for meeting daily needs and ensuring 24/7 security.

Owns a business company

Gunther IV also owns his own company, with employees managing assets and ensuring the Gunther family's wealth continues to grow.

Gunther IV the dog has its own butler

Finally, an executor -- named in the will or appointed by the court -- ensures that the trust is properly administered and that funds are used only for the benefit of the sole beneficiaries, which are animals.

In many cases, pet owners limit the trustee's ability to withdraw funds from the pet fund to a certain number of years (usually the estimated lifespan of the heirs) to prevent fraud.

There have also been cases where pets died, but those in charge of the fund replaced them with another animal so they could continue to tap into the wealth. In such a case, the above amount will be donated to a specific charity.

In the case of Countess Reibenstein's original heir, Gunther III, it was stipulated that the money would be passed on to her descendants. And just like that, Gunther IV became the richest dog in the world after the death of his father, Gunther III.

Gunther IV dog wears sunglasses while sunbathing

Interestingly, Gunther IV is said to be the CEO of Gunther Corporation, a company that manages the Gunther "family"'s vast fortune, investing the funds primarily in profitable business ventures.

Gunther IV's dog company, Gunther Corporation, invested in projects such as buying a football club in Tuscany (Italy) or producing a theatrical show called Burgundians, which added to his wealth. "Family" Gunther has grown from an initial $100 million to nearly $380 million today.