From Tailor Boy to One of the

World’s Self-Made Billionaires

Every individual is supposedly born with an innate desire to achieve greatness. People want to give their life meaning and turn their dreams into superlative achievements, but only a few manage to turn those aspirations into success stories. Amancio Ortega is among those few who have succeeded in following a path of self-determination to greatness. 

^{_{Amancio Ortega supports his daughter in the Monte Carlo jumping competition}}

The Spanish fashion executive did not have his success handed to him on a silver platter. His beginning was rather laborious, and he wouldn’t have become the business tycoon he is today hadn’t it been for his patience and granite determination. As a young teenager, he entered the garment business by working as a delivery boy for a men’s shirt shop and assisting a tailor. But instead of falling into despair, he used his jobs to acquaint himself with the costs of manufacturing clothes and understanding how to satisfy customers.

Ortega soon built himself a prestigious clientele base, and in 1963 founded his bathrobe business, Confecciones Goa, which he managed to expand by applying his expertise in the field. Then, in 1975 he co-founded Inditex, known for its Zara fashion chain, with his ex-wife Rosalia Mera. That’s when his journey in the fast fashion lane began, and by 2008 Inditex already owned not only Zara but also Stradivarius, Pull and Bear, Massimo Dutti, and Oysho.

^{_{Amancio Ortega during a family vacation}}

The once tailor turned business executive owns 59% of Inditex, which is now the world’s largest clothing retailer, yielding a yearly revenue of approximately $29 billion! That is quite impressive for a man who once used to make a living by delivering clothes to ordinary Spanish men. Mr. Ortega used his success to help fund his passion; his love for football led him to buy the Spanish soccer team Deportivo La Coruna- spend your money on what you love, even if the price tag comes with several zeroes!

^{_{Amancio Ortega, one of the world's wealthiest men}}

Ortega managed to leave his mark on the company’s 7,500 stores across 77 different countries. He is now considered to be the 6^th wealthiest man in the world and is the richest retailer alive. Yet, his staggering net worth has never turned him into an arrogant man; Ortega has never forgotten his origins. He likes to keep his low-key life private, and has claimed that “in the street, I only want to be recognized by my family, friends, and people I work with”. Ortega is to be admired as a humble man whose dreams came true, giving hope to others too.