Jakob Fugger the Rich and his wife Sibylle Artzt were childless. In his will, Jakob named his nephew Anton Fugger as sole successor. In 1525, at 32 years old, Anton assumed leadership of the firm and managed it with prolific success until his death in 1560. Anton Fugger reorganised both the firm and the foundations.

Reorganisation of the firm

The focus of the firm's business activities shifted during Anton Fugger's time. Due to the disappearing security of large-value credit and the decreasing profits from the mines, Anton Fugger invested more and more in land in order to safeguard the firm's assets. Particularly in Swabia, Anton Fugger acquired large estates, for instance Babenhausen, Glött and Kirchheim, as future sources of the family's livelihood. The stipulation in his will that mercantile activities be dissolved six years after his death was, however, not enacted. The Fugger mercantile firm did not actually cease its activities until almost a century later.