Wilhelm Albert von Opel was born on May 15, 1871, in Rüsselsheim, the son of automotive visionary Adam Opel.

After studying engineering at the Technical University of Darmstadt, he and his brothers took over their father’s company and built it into one of the world’s leading automotive brands.

In 1917, the brothers were appointed Privy Councilors by the last Grand Duke of Darmstadt, Ernst Ludwig, and were ennobled. After the family business was converted into a corporation, he and his brothers sold it to the American General Motors Corporation in 1929. Wilhelm von Opel retired to Wiesbaden and remained associated with the company as a member of the supervisory board. He died on May 2, 1948, in Wiesbaden.

Due to his ties to the Nazi regime, the state capital of Wiesbaden revoked his honorary citizenship by Resolution No. 0130 of the City Council, passed on May 28, 2026.