1. Amancio Ortega
Net worth: $113.4 billion
Citizenship: Spain
Spain’s richest person, Ortega is a leading figure in the global clothing retail industry. His entrepreneurial journey began in 1963 with the establishment of Confecciones GOA, a dressmaking workshop. In 1975, he and his late ex-wife Rosalia Mera opened the first Zara store in Spain. Inditex was officially founded in 1985, consolidating various brands under one umbrella. As of April 2024, it had 5,698 stores worldwide, including brands like Massimo Dutti, Bershka, and Pull&Bear. Ortega owns approximately 60% of Inditex. In 2022, his daughter Marta Ortega Pérez took over as chairperson. The 88-year-old’s namesake foundation focuses on education and social welfare. In the 2023 financial year, which ended January 2024, the group reported a 10.4% increase in revenues to reach $38.9 billion and recorded net profits of $5.8 billion.
2. Phil Knight & family
Net worth: $39.4 billion
Citizenship: U.S.
Knight is the cofounder of Nike and served as its chairman until his retirement in 2016. A track athlete at the University of Oregon, Knight created Nike with his former coach, Bill Bowerman.
Bu hikaye Forbes Middle East - English dergisinin July 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye Forbes Middle East - English dergisinin July 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
CONSCIOUS INVESTING
VentureSouq's cofounders and general partners, Suneel Gokhale, Sonia Gokhale, Tammer Qaddumi, and Sonia Weymuller, are actively reshaping the investment landscape. With $250 million in assets under management, the thematic fund manager is forging a distinct path, with a focus on fintech and climate tech.
VENTURING BEYOND CAPITAL
In just seven years, Shane Shin and Mahmoud Adi, Founding Partners of Shoroog Partners, have turned their startup into one of the Middle East’s biggest startup investors, with 500 million in assets under management. With ambitions far beyond venture capital, they’re now expanding further into credit markets and looking at where they can be pioneers.
ROCK STAR
WHAT IF THE REVOLUTIONARY TECHNIQUES DEVELOPED TO FRACK ROCKS FOR OIL COULD BE MODIFIED TO UNLOCK LIMITLESS CLEAN ENERGY FROM THE HEAT OF THE EARTH’S CRUST?
Breaking New Territory
Moroccan-Canadian singer and 30 Under 30 alumna Faouzia is having her biggest year yet and enjoying newfound fame in China. As her stardom rises, she’s now exploring new projects and possibilities.
5 Biggest MENA IPOs of 2024
This year has been pivotal for MENA, marked by a series of high-profile IPOs that drew interest from local and international investors. Here’s a look at the five biggest IPOs that defined 2024.
TOP VENTURE CAPITALISTS
MENA has emerged as a vibrant hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, fostering a dynamic landscape for startups.
Top Funding Rounds in MENA 2024
This year has seen some of MENA’s largest-ever funding rounds. Here’s a look at five standout deals. Only startups that were founded less than 10 years ago and had disclosed their funding rounds as of November 27, 2024, were considered.
Key Insights From MENA's Funding Landscape
MENA saw a mixed performance in the first nine months of 2024.
A Look Ahead: Travel Trends Shaping 2025
What will drive wanderlust in 2025? Here’s a look at the key travel trends set to dominate the year.
Codebreakers
Backed by 200 million in funding, 28-year-old SCOTT WU and his team of competitive coders at Cognition are building an Al tool that can program entirely on its own, potentially disintegrating the whole industry. Is its 2 billion valuation the result of a true breakthrough, or just more Al hype?
