Amancio Ortega

Amancio Ortega stepped down as chairman of Inditex, the $15.8 billion (sales) fashion firm in January 2011; he still gets 87% of his fortune from his stake in the publicly traded firm. The company, which operates under several brand names including Zara, Massimo Dutti and Stradivarius. Ortega started the business in 1975 with then-wife Mera, who stitched some of their first pieces of clothing by hand at home. The two divorced in 1975. Ortega went on to become a pioneer in the fast fashion industry, strategically keeping inventory levels down and prices low by spinning out styles much faster than competitors. Today, the company has 6,600 stores and $16.7 billion in annual sales. Ortega also owns properties in Florida, Madrid, London and Lisbon, a horse-jumping circuit, a stake in a soccer league; and has interests in gas, tourism and banks. Railway worker's son, he started as a gofer in a shirt store. With then-wife Rosalia Mera, also a billionaire, started making dressing gowns and lingerie in living room. Daughter Marta works for Inditex. Daughter Marta Ortega Pérez will assume the role of board chair in April 2022.