The first McFit studio opened in Würzburg, Germany, in 1997, marking the entry of Rainer Schaller into the fitness industry. By focusing on the discount market segment, Schaller expanded his operations rapidly, transforming a single location into a global network that eventually encompassed seventeen different brands and over one thousand individual fitness studios across forty-eight countries.
Early Retail Career
Born in 1969 in Bamberg, West Germany, Schaller spent his youth in the town of Schlüsselfeld. His mother and grandfather were employed in the local retail sector, an environment that influenced his early professional path. He completed formal training as a retail salesman and subsequently obtained further qualifications as a business and retail specialist. By age twenty-two, he managed his first Edeka supermarket, eventually overseeing four stores in his home region.
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Following his transition to the fitness sector, Schaller established a business model centered on high-volume, budget-friendly access. By mid-2006, the McFit brand operated 62 locations in Germany, serving 400,000 members with 1,000 permanent employees. Growth continued steadily; by 2011, the company was the largest operator in Europe, surpassing 1 million members. In 2019, the holding company was rebranded as RSG Group, covering chains such as John Reed Fitness and High 5. During the 2020 pandemic, Schaller executed a significant expansion by acquiring the Gold's Gym brand out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. By the end of 2020, the organization employed 41,000 people globally.
The Love Parade Organization
In 2006, Schaller assumed the role of managing director at Lopavent, the firm responsible for organizing the Love Parade. He intended to use the high-profile music event as a promotional platform for his fitness studios. The festival proceeded without major incidents for three years. However, the 2010 event in Duisburg resulted in a tragedy that caused 21 deaths and 652 injuries. While Schaller testified during court proceedings in 2018 and acknowledged moral responsibility for the event, he faced no formal criminal charges.
Fatal Plane Crash
On 21 October 2022, Schaller traveled on a private Piaggio P.180 Avanti aircraft departing from Palenque, Mexico, toward Limón, Costa Rica. The plane crashed into the Caribbean Sea during its approach. The passengers included Schaller, his partner Christine Schikorsky, their two children, a second German passenger, and a 66-year-old Swiss pilot. Rescue efforts recovered the bodies of Schaller and his son from the sea two days after the accident.
Fast facts
- Born: 1969, Bamberg, Germany
- Died: 21 October 2022, Caribbean Sea
- Occupation: Entrepreneur and merchant
- Brother: Gerd Schaller, conductor
- First fitness studio: 1997, Würzburg
- RSG Group brands: 17
- Countries of operation: 48
- Peak group employees: 41,000
Questions readers ask
Did Rainer Schaller face charges for the Love Parade disaster?
No, he was not charged in connection with the event, though he testified as a witness in 2018 and accepted moral responsibility.
What happened to the Gold's Gym brand under Schaller?
Schaller acquired Gold's Gym in 2020 after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
