The Orphan Who Built Rolex (And Why Nobody Can Buy It)

He lost both parents by age 12. Then he built the most famous watch brand on Earth. Rolex is on the wrists of presidents, astronauts and superstars. It has been to the top of Everest and the bottom of the ocean. But it wasn't started by a Swiss watchmaker. It was started by a German orphan in London. And today, by analysts' estimates, Rolex sells more than 10 billion Swiss francs' worth of watches every year. Yet nobody can buy a single share of it. In this animated documentary, we follow Hans Wilsdorf from a lonely childhood in Bavaria to building the empire everyone wants a piece of, and reveal who really owns Rolex today. ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 The Hook 0:38 Chapter 1: The Orphan 1:57 Chapter 2: Proving the Impossible 3:58 Chapter 3: The Oyster 5:35 Chapter 4: Conquering the Planet 7:47 Chapter 5: Who Really Owns Rolex? 8:52 Chapter 6: The Empire Machine 📌 Empire Files tells the stories of how the world's biggest businesses and empires began. 👉 Subscribe so you don't miss the next empire. Note: Revenue figures are third-party estimates. Rolex is a private company and does not publish its financials. This video is an independent documentary and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Rolex SA. #Rolex #BusinessHistory #EmpireFiles