niki lauda wife
Introduction
Niki Lauda’s wife is Birgit Wetzinger, an Austrian former flight attendant born on March 4, 1979, in Vienna, Austria. Niki Lauda was one of the greatest Formula One drivers in history, a three-time World Champion who raced for Ferrari and McLaren and later became non-executive chairman of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team. He passed away on May 20, 2019, at age 70, leaving behind his wife and their twin children.
Their story is far from an ordinary celebrity romance — it includes a life-saving kidney donation, a 30-year age gap, and a quiet, private family life away from the spotlight. In this article, we cover everything known about Birgit Wetzinger, from her early life to her marriage with Lauda and the family they built together.
Who Is Birgit Wetzinger?
Birgit Wetzinger was born on March 4, 1979, in Vienna, Austria, making her about 30 years younger than Niki Lauda, who was born in 1949. She grew up in Austria and, according to several biographical sources, pursued education related to aviation and hospitality before starting her career. Some reports describe her as holding a diploma in aviation, while others mention a background in hospitality and management — either way, both fields fit naturally with the career she later chose.
Unlike her famous husband, Wetzinger has always kept her personal history largely private. Details about her parents, siblings, and childhood have not been widely reported, and she has never sought media attention on her own. This low profile is one of the defining traits of her public image:
she is known almost entirely through her connection to Niki Lauda rather than through interviews or public appearances of her own. Her Austrian roots and quiet nature stand in contrast to the high-profile, globally recognized career of the man she would eventually marry.
Birgit Wetzinger’s Career & Professional Life
Before her marriage, Birgit Wetzinger worked as a flight attendant for Lauda Air, the airline founded and owned by Niki Lauda himself. This job is actually how the couple’s paths first crossed. Working in commercial aviation required training, professionalism, and people skills, and Wetzinger reportedly built a solid career in the industry before her personal life became intertwined with her employer’s.
After marrying Lauda in 2008, Wetzinger largely stepped back from public-facing career pursuits and focused on family life, though she has never given detailed public interviews about her professional path after the wedding. She has maintained a distinctly low-key lifestyle, avoiding tabloid coverage and rarely appearing at red-carpet or press events, even after Lauda became one of the most recognizable figures in motorsport as a TV pundit and team executive.
Various unofficial sources estimate her net worth at around $3 million, though this figure is not independently confirmed and should be treated as an approximation rather than a verified fact. Her financial standing has likely been shaped both by her own career and by her long marriage to one of Formula One’s most successful and business-savvy figures.
How Did Niki Lauda and Birgit Wetzinger Meet?
Niki Lauda and Birgit Wetzinger met through his airline, Lauda Air, where she worked as a flight attendant. The two began dating in 2004, at a point when Lauda had already been divorced from his first wife, Marlene Knaus, for well over a decade. At the time, Lauda had reportedly said he never intended to marry again — but his relationship with Wetzinger changed that.
Their bond was tested early and dramatically. Only about eight months into dating, in 2005, Lauda suffered kidney failure. His first kidney transplant, using an organ from his brother, did not succeed. When his son Lukas also turned out not to be a match, Wetzinger — then in her mid-twenties and relatively new to the relationship — offered to donate one of her own kidneys. Lauda later said he was initially skeptical, questioning why someone so early in a relationship would take such a risk for him. She insisted, was tested, and turned out to be a match. The transplant succeeded, and neither of them experienced complications in the years that followed.
This act became one of the most talked-about parts of their relationship, often cited as proof of how deeply committed Wetzinger was to Lauda, even before marriage was on the table. The couple continued dating for about four years after the transplant before deciding to formalize their relationship.
Marriage & Wedding Details
Niki Lauda and Birgit Wetzinger got married in 2008, after roughly four years together. This was Lauda’s second marriage — his first, to Marlene Knaus, lasted from 1976 to 1991. For Wetzinger, it marked the start of a new chapter as she became stepmother to Lauda’s two sons from his first marriage, Mathias and Lukas.
Detailed public information about the wedding ceremony itself — such as the exact date, venue, or guest list — has not been widely published, in keeping with the couple’s preference for privacy. What is well documented is the emotional weight the marriage carried, given everything the pair had already been through together, including the kidney transplant that had bonded them just a few years earlier. Their wedding represented not just a romantic milestone but the culmination of a relationship built on unusual trust and sacrifice.
Children & Family Life
After marrying in 2008, Niki Lauda and Birgit Wetzinger had twins, a son named Max and a daughter named Mia. This gave Lauda four children in total, alongside his two sons, Mathias and Lukas, from his first marriage to Marlene Knaus.
The family kept a notably private lifestyle, with Wetzinger and the children rarely appearing in media coverage compared to Lauda’s very public racing and broadcasting career. Following Lauda’s death in 2019, the family released a joint statement describing him as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather away from the spotlight. Wetzinger has continued to raise their children largely out of public view, occasionally appearing in the news in connection with matters related to Lauda’s estate and legacy, but otherwise maintaining the same private approach to family life that defined their marriage.
Birgit Wetzinger on Social Media
Birgit Wetzinger does not maintain a notable public presence on social media platforms such as Instagram or Twitter/X. Unlike many partners of famous athletes who use social media to build personal brands or share glimpses of their lifestyle, Wetzinger has chosen to stay almost entirely offline in terms of public content. This aligns with her general preference for privacy throughout her relationship and marriage with Niki Lauda. Fans looking for personal updates or family photos won’t find an official verified account, which only reinforces her reputation as one of the more private spouses in the motorsport world.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Birgit Wetzinger |
| Date of Birth | March 4, 1979 |
| Nationality | Austrian |
| Profession | Former flight attendant |
| Married to | Niki Lauda |
| Marriage Year | 2008 |
| Children | Twins: Max and Mia Lauda |
| Net Worth | Estimated around $3 million (unverified) |
FAQ Section
Q: What is Niki Lauda’s wife’s name? A: Niki Lauda’s wife is Birgit Wetzinger, an Austrian former flight attendant. They were married from 2008 until Lauda’s death in 2019.
Q: How old is Birgit Wetzinger? A: Birgit Wetzinger was born on March 4, 1979, making her about 30 years younger than Niki Lauda. She is in her mid-forties as of 2026.
Q: What does Birgit Wetzinger do for a living? A: Birgit Wetzinger worked as a flight attendant for Lauda Air before her marriage to Niki Lauda. She has kept a low public profile regarding her career since then.
Q: When did Niki Lauda and Birgit Wetzinger get married? A: Niki Lauda and Birgit Wetzinger got married in 2008, after dating for about four years. It was Lauda’s second marriage.
Q: How many kids do Niki Lauda and Birgit Wetzinger have? A: Niki Lauda and Birgit Wetzinger have two children together, twins named Max and Mia. Lauda also had two sons, Mathias and Lukas, from his first marriage.
Conclusion
Birgit Wetzinger may not have sought the spotlight, but her story is one of the most remarkable in Formula One history. As Niki Lauda’s wife, she went from a Lauda Air flight attendant to the woman who donated a kidney to save his life, and eventually to his devoted partner and the mother of his twins. Their marriage, built on sacrifice and quiet loyalty, lasted until Lauda’s death in 2019. Even now, Birgit Wetzinger continues to protect her family’s privacy while carrying forward the legacy of one of racing’s greatest legends. Her role as Niki Lauda’s wife remains a defining and deeply human part of his extraordinary life story.
