Who is Amancio Ortega?
Amancio Ortega is the Spanish co-founder of Zara and its parent company, Inditex, and a pioneer of fast fashion. Forbes put his net worth at $145.3 billion (about ₹13.8 lakh crore) on 3 November 2026, 12th in the world and the richest person in Europe on that day’s list 1.
How did Amancio Ortega make his money?
Ortega started working in textiles in 1963 and opened the first Zara shop in A Coruña in 1975 with his then wife, Rosalía Mera. Zara’s model of moving new designs into shops within weeks made Inditex the world’s largest clothing retailer. He owns about 60% of it 1.
Dividends and property
He reportedly receives more than $400 million a year in Inditex dividends, which his investment company, Pontegadea, puts mainly into office buildings and other property in Europe and North America 12.
Family
Ortega was born on 28 March 1936 in Busdongo de Arbas, León. He is married to Flora Pérez and has three children; his daughter Marta Ortega Pérez has chaired Inditex since 2022 12.
