Ferdinand Piëch once joked about the number of his children. "About a dozen, so you do not know that," he said in an interview. So far, twelve children from four relationships were known. However, as the "Welt am Sonntag" reported, the manager, who died a week ago, is said to have fathered another child during his lifetime.
On Saturday confirmed Piëchs former partner Marlene Porsche the news. "It is true that the 13th child is my son Hans Porsche, a fact that was confirmed by a judicially recognized paternity test," Marlene Porsche said on Saturday, according to news agency dpa. "With regard to the family privacy of all those affected, this fact has not been actively communicated."
So far, it was assumed that twelve children - also because the former VW boss once sworn testimony in the course of a legal dispute. In 2007, Piëch obtained a cease and desist letter against "The World on Sunday" banning the newspaper from reporting on a 13th child.
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Earlier this week Piëch's widow Ursula had already spoken of thirteen children in her statement on the death of the car manager. Hans Porsche was previously known as the son of Marlene and Gerhard Porsche. Marlene Porsche left her husband for Ferdinand Piëch and lived with him for several years.
According to "Welt am Sonntag" Hans Porsche was born on April 9, 1973, when his mother and Gerhard Porsche were officially still a couple. At the age of one, Hans Porsche moved to the house of Piëch with his mother, where he lived for ten years.
The family lawyer Ferdinand Piëch was initially unable to reach an opinion. The lawyers of Hans Porsche said: "In principle, our client does not comment on private matters and we ask you to respect his privacy."