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<i>Corynebacterium diphtheriae</i>, the etiological agent of diphtheria, is a re-emerging pathogen, responsible for several thousand deaths per year. In addition to diphtheria, systemic infections, often by non-toxigenic strains, are increasingly observed. This indicates that besides the well-studied and highly potent diphtheria toxin, various other virulence factors may influence the progression of the infection. This review focuses on the known components of <i>C. diphtheriae</i> responsible for adhesion, invasion, inflammation, and cell death, as well as on the cellular signaling pathways activated upon infection.