Michael Merkel was born in Munich in 1969. He has been married since 1991, has two grown-up children, who are now also married, and two grandchildren. He lives south of Munich in Warngau, Upper Bavaria.
After studying theoretical physics, he decided against a career in research and instead switched to business. He has been working for a large insurance company for over 25 years, currently as a manager in central risk management. In addition to family and career, Michael Merkel loves nature, has a great fondness for sports (e.g. ultra running) and is particularly interested in the »big questions of life« in the area of tension between science and faith.