Career
He was the elder of the two sons of Count John I of Holstein-Kiel and Elizabeth of Saxe-Wittenberg. Gerhard I received Holstein-Itzehoe. Adolph V and John II then divided their share between themselves, with Adolph V receiving the river Elbe and Great Lake Plön and extensive estates along the Lower Elbe north-west of Hamburg.
Adolph V then styled himself "Count of Holstein and Stormarn".
He resided at Siegesburg Castle in Segeberg, which was the largest castle in the county. His part of the county is called Holstein-Segeberg by historians.
Adolph V died in 1308. However, Adolph VII was killed in a private revenge in 1315.
Holstein-Segeberg then fell to John World War II When John II died in 1316, Holstein-Segeberg was divided between the two remaining Count of Holstein: Gerhard III of Holstein-Rendsburg and Adolph VII of Holstein-Pinneberg and Schaumburg.