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Education: NA.
Railway worker's son started as a gofer in a
shirt store. With then-wife Rosalia Mera, also
now a billionaire, started making dressing gowns
and lingerie in their living room. Business
became one of world's most successful apparel
manufacturers. Today Inditex has more than 4,000
stores in 71 countries. Sales: $12.3 billion.
Ortega is chairman. Company exported its cheap
chic Zara stores to 4 new markets last year:
Ukraine, South Korea, Montenegro and Honduras.
Stock up 1% in past 12 months, but fortune down
because of weak euro. Also has personal
investments in gas, tourism, banks and real
estate. Owns properties in Madrid, Paris,
London, Lisbon, plus a luxury hotel and
apartment complex in Miami, a horse-jumping
circuit, and an interest in a soccer league.
Shuns neckties and fanfare. Daughter Marta works
for Inditex; recent speculation suggests she is
being groomed to eventually replace her father.
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