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10 Most Famous People from Luxembourg

Luxembourg is a small, landlocked country located in Western Europe and bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. With a population of 642,371, it is the only Grand Duchy in the world.

Luxembourg is the world’s only sovereign grand duchy and since 1815, there have been nine monarchs, including the incumbent, Henri.

Its GDP per capita of $140,694 making it the wealthiest country in the European Union, per capita. It is a major center for large private banking, and its finance sector is the biggest contributor to its economy.

Apart from its wealth, it is also famous for having award-winning wines, for its capital city, also called Luxembourg, having a curious network of underground tunnels, and for having three national languages.

Most citizens are trilingual, speaking French and German in addition to the Germanic national language of Luxembourgish. It has a rich cultural history, especially in music, painting, and photography.

Here is a list of the most famous Luxembourgers:

1. Andy Schleck

Andy Schleck. Image by Matthieu Riegler, CC-by-

Andy Raymond Schleck is a Luxembourgish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team RadioShack-Leopard. He won the 2010 Tour de France, being awarded it retroactively in February 2012 after Alberto Contador’s hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

He has also been the runner-up at the Tour twice; in 2009 and 2011. He is the younger brother of Fr?nk Schleck, who previously rode for RadioShack-Leopard. Their father Johny Schleck rode the Tour de France and Vuelta an Espa?a between 1965 and 1974.

2. Fr?nk Schleck

Image by Denismenchov08-Wikimedia

Fr?nk René Schleck is a professional road bicycle racer who last rode for UCI ProTeam RadioShack-Nissan. Schleck is the older brother of Andy, winner of the 2010 Tour de France.

Fr?nk’s greatest achievements include winning a blue riband mountain stage in the 2006 Tour de France which finished on the Alpe d’Huez, the 2006 edition of the Amstel Gold Race classic, and an alpine stage of the 2009 Tour de France, finishing in the sole company of his brother Andy and Alberto Contador.

On 30 January 2013, Schleck was suspended for 12 months following a positive test for xipamide at the 2012 Tour de France. The ban, backdated to the date of the positive test, expired on 13 July 2013.

3. Mandy Minella

Photo by si.robi – Minella WMQ15 (14-

Mandy Minella is a professional tennis player. Her highest singles ranking to date is world number 66 on 17 September 2012, and world number 47 in doubles on 29 April 2013.

She has not won a WTA singles title but has won two doubles titles on the WTA circuit, as well as seven singles and five doubles titles on the ITF tour.

She currently resides in 麻豆APP and in her city of birth, Esch-Sur-Alzette, in Luxembourg. Her parents are Mario and Anna Minella, and she is coached by Norbert Palmier.

4. Robert Schuman

Image by Agence de presse Meurisse –

Robert Schuman was a Luxembourgish-born French statesman. Schuman was a Christian Democrat and an independent political thinker and activist.

Twice Prime Minister of France, a reformist Minister of Finance, and a Foreign Minister, he was instrumental in building post-war European and trans-Atlantic institutions and is regarded as one of the founders of the European Union, the Council of Europe, and NATO. The 1964–1965 academic year at the College of Europe was named in his honor.

5. Jean-Claude Juncker

Euronet Plus interview. Image by euranet_plus –

Jean-Claude Juncker is a politician who has been the 23rd Prime Minister of Luxembourg since 20 January 1995. He is the longest-serving head of government of any European Union state, and one of the longest-serving democratically elected leaders in the world.

He was President of the Eurogroup from the creation of the semi-permanent position in 2005 until 2013. Elected to the Chamber of Deputies for the Christian Social People’s Party in 1984, Juncker was immediately promoted to Jacques Santer’s cabinet as Minister for Work.

He was Luxembourg’s Minister for Finances from 1989 to 2009 and became Prime Minister when Santer became President of the European Commission in 1995. In his capacity as Prime Minister, he also served two six-month terms as President of the European Council, in 1997 and 2005.

In July 2013, Juncker’s coalition government was brought down by a scandal involving the country’s intelligence agency. As a result, a snap election was held in October in which Juncker sought a fifth term.

6. Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg

Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg OIH is the head of the state of Luxembourg. He is the eldest son of Grand Duke Jean and Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium, and a first cousin of the current King of the Belgians, Philippe.

7. Edward Steichen

Image by 三木淳 – 『日本カメラ』日本カメラ社、1955年4月号-

Jean Steichen was an American photographer, painter, and art gallery and museum curator. Steichen was the most frequently featured photographer in Alfred Stieglitz’s groundbreaking magazine Camera Work during its run from 1903 to 1917.

Together Stieglitz and Steichen opened the Little Galleries of the Photo-Secession, which eventually became known as 291 after its address. His photos of gowns for the magazine Art et Décoration in 1911 are regarded as the first modern fashion photographs ever published.

From 1923 to 1938, Steichen was a photographer for the Condé Nast magazines Vogue and Vanity Fair while also working for many advertising agencies including J. Walter Thompson. During these years, Steichen was regarded as the best-known and highest-paid photographer in the world.

In 1944, he directed the war documentary The Fighting Lady, which won the 1945 Academy Award for Best Documentary. After World War II, Steichen was Director of the Department of Photography at New York’s Museum of Modern Art until 1962. While at MoMA, he curated and assembled the exhibit The Family of Man, which was seen by nine million people.

8. Viviane Reding

Image by World Economic-

Viviane Reding is a politician, currently serving as European Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights, and Citizenship.

Before starting a professional career as a journalist for the leading newspaper in Luxembourg, the Luxemburger Wort, she obtained a doctorate in human sciences at the Sorbonne. From 1986 to 1998, she was President of the Luxembourg Union of Journalists.

On 27 November 2009, she was upgraded in the “Barroso II Commission” to Vice-President responsible for Justice, Fundamental Rights, and Citizenship. She is affiliated with the European People’s Party. She is divorced and has three children.

9. Charly Gaul

Charly Gaul. Image by Unknown author (ANeFo) –

Charly Gaul was a professional cyclist. He was a national cyclo-cross champion, an accomplished time triallist, and a better climber. His ability earned him the nickname of The Angel of the Mountains in the 1958 Tour de France, which he won with four stage victories.

He also won the Giro d’Italia in 1956 and 1959. Gaul rode best in cold, wet weather. In later life, he became a recluse and lost much of his memory.

10. Gilles Müller

Image by from

Gilles Müller is a professional tennis player. He was a US Open junior champion and is the most successful male tennis player in the history of his country. He was born and raised in Schifflange and he resides in Leudelange. His career-high ATP singles ranking is World No. 42.