Spain’s richest man gets richer

AMANCIO Ortega, the Galician founder of the Zara retail chain, saw his fortune rise past the €60 billion mark this week.

Ortega created the giant textile company Inditex in 1985, and owns a 59 per cent stake. Inditex, one of the world’s largest fashion retailers, controls eight brands, including Zara, Zara Home, Pull & Bear, Bershka and Oysho, and has some 6,460 stores.

The share prices last Friday March 13 meant that he was only worth €59.55 billion. However, in anticipation of a favourable company report due this week, Monday saw the price rise to €28.81 each, tipping him over the €60 billion mark.

But he doesn’t only have the clothes and the money! He has the house as well – his Pontegada property firm is estimated to be worth over €4.7 billion on its own.