Amancio Ortega, founder of Zara and owner of the world’s largest fashion retail group Inditex, is set to receive a record dividend of €3.23 billion ($3.5B) in 2026, slightly surpassing last year’s payout of €3.1 billion.
Ortega, who still controls 59% of Inditex, while his daughter Marta Ortega Pérez now chairs the board, will receive half of his dividend in May and the other half in November. Other shareholders will receive payments on the same schedule, according to The Guardian.
Inditex, which owns popular brands including Bershka, Massimo Dutti, Pull&Bear, Stradivarius, and Oysho, reported a 4% increase in dividends following “robust operational growth” in 2025.
According to Bloomberg, Ortega’s net worth is approximately $126.7 billion (£94 billion), making him the 15th richest person in the world.
The company operates 5,460 stores in over 90 countries, with sales rising 3.2% to €39.9 billion in the year ending January 31, 2026, and pre-tax profit increasing 5.8% to €8 billion. Despite closing 103 stores worldwide last year, Inditex expanded many locations into larger outlets, increasing total retail space.
Ortega, who will turn 90 in March, launched Zara in 1975 from a small store in La Coruña, Galicia, northern Spain. He began his career as a local shirt supplier and delivery boy before opening his own shop.
Looking ahead, Inditex expects to grow retail space by 5% in 2026 and continue expanding its online business. The company kicked off the new year with a 9% sales increase from February 1 to March 8, excluding currency effects.
Follow NEWS.am STYLE on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
16:07, September 5
‘Chinese Nostradamus’ Makes Grim Predictions for 2027: Ground Invasion of Iran and Civil War in the US15:22, September 5
Aryna Sabalenka Furious Over Marijuana Smell at US Open14:36, September 5
Jane Fonda Slams ‘Tech Bros, Oligarchs and Billionaires’ Who Want to Live Forever With Robots: ‘They’ll Be Their Children’13:19, September 5
A Waist-Deep Wedding: Bride Walks Down the Aisle in Flooded Church12:25, September 5
Luxury at H&M Prices: Elie Saab Brings Couture Codes to the Mass Market11:17, September 5
George Clooney Rules Out Presidential Run — and Names Three Democratic Favorites for 202810:58, September 5
Petrossian Caviar Empire Head Mikael Petrossian Named One of Vanity Fair’s Best-Dressed Frenchmen10:30, September 5
Beyoncé Fans Accuse Singer of ‘Disgusting Greed’ Over $1,000 Empty Box23:01, September 4
“The Devil Wears Zara”: Anna Wintour’s Latest Met Gala Disaster22:30, September 4
$100 Billion Has Vanished: Is the Era of Shein and Out-of-Control Fast Fashion Finally Coming to an End?21:16, September 4
The 2026 Ig Nobel Prizes: How to Blow Your Nose, Why Teenagers Smell and the Mystery of Buried Underwear20:20, September 4
The Billionaires’ Bunker Has Rules: How the World’s Richest People Live in Florida’s Most Exclusive Enclave