Einem was born in Salzburg, Allied-occupied Austria, the son of composer Gottfried von Einem and his wife Lianne, née von Bismarck. After studying jurisprudence in Vienna, gaining the degree of Dr. jur. in 1971, Einem worked as a probation officer in Vienna and Salzburg. After this, he worked for the Austrian Chamber of Workers. In 1991, he became a manager for the OMV, Austria's biggest gas and oil company, where he eventually was director of the department for gas. He was vice-president of the European Forum Alpbach.
