According to a report in Women’s Wear Daily, London’s annual Sunday Times “Rich List”, published on May 18, shows that about one-third of Europe’s top 25 richest people are in the fashion, beauty, or the luxury goods industries. Europe’s richest person is Spanish founder and owner of Inditex, Zara headquarters, Amancio Ortega. His net worth weighs in at the equivalent of a whopping $64.74 billion when converted at the current exchange rates from pounds.
Next in the fashion and beauty category are owners of Hennes & Mauritz, the clothing company known as H&M, Stefan and Liselott Persson. The family’s fortune is $37.67 billion. Close behind is Bernard Arnault, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton chief, with a calculated net worth of $32.29 billion.
Next, with a value of $32.12 billion, is beauty company L’Oréal’s largest shareholder, Liliane Bettencourt. A member of the family of the founders of Hermès, Bertrand Pueche has a fortune of $24.89 billion. The chairman and founder of the world’s largest eyewear company that controls over 80% of major eyewear brands, Leonardo del Vecchio, is worth $19.17 billion.
Also found in the top 25 are Chanel shareholders, Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, worth $18.83 billion. Topping off the top 25, with a combined networth of $17.32 billion, is the designer Miuccia Prada, and her spouse Patrizio Bertelli.
Europe’s wealthiest people seem to be dominated by those in the fashion and beauty industries.
