The world is moving toward ever-increasing wealth for the richest people. Between estimates and officially record-breaking fortunes, the empire behind the future trillionaire, Elon Musk (and the richest man in the world), grows larger every year. The United States leads the way in terms of money, with more and more centibillionaires emerging from the tech world, including cryptocurrencies, artificial intelligence, and internet control.
Europe, however, is holding its own, even somewhat symbolically, in those sectors most closely linked to the history and culture of the Old Continent: fashion, food & beverage, and commerce. Even on our shores, there are many truly rich people, but if we look at the various markets, Europe is certainly a step behind (North) America and Asia, with the former undoubtedly the undisputed leader in big money. With a few exceptions, of course.
But who are the richest people in Europe in 2026? Let’s try to draw up an updated ranking based on analyses from the renowned portal Bloomberg, a leading source of information on wealth, economics, and finance.
The ranking of the richest men in Europe
When we talk about wealth and billions, we primarily think of men. Unfortunately, the world’s billionaires are predominantly male, with a few exceptions for heiresses and widows in high places. And this is also true for our continent, which boasts nine men and only one woman in the top 10, who, among other things, was the richest woman in the world for years (now surpassed by Alice Walton).
Here is the updated 2026 ranking, as mentioned, cross-referencing Bloomberg data updated as of April 23.
| Position in Europe | Position in the world | Name | Wealth (in euros) | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | Bernard Arnault | 136.7 billion | France |
| 2 | 15 | Amancio Ortega | 111.9 billion | Spain |
| 3 | 21 | Francoise Bettencourt Meyers | 75.2 billion | France |
| 4 | 32 | Giovanni Ferrero and family | 52.5 billion | Italy |
| 5 | 43 | Dieter Schwarz | 39.6 billion | Germany |
| 6 | 45 | Klaus-Michael Kuehne | 37.8 billion | Germany |
| 7 | 54 | Rodolphe Saade and family | 34.3 billion | France |
| 8 | 57 | Andy Bechtolsheim | 32.8 billion | Germany |
| 9 | 59 | Ernesto Bertarelli and family | 32 billion | Italy-Switzerland |
| 10 | 63 | Gianluigi Aponte | 31.7 billion euros | Italy |
The top two in the ranking are also the only centibillionaires in Europe. Two figures, Arnault and Ortega, who, in terms of empires and fortunes, are consistently among the top ten richest people in the world—or just behind them. And while Arnault, the king of fashion, has somehow maintained his dominance in his sector between Louis Vuitton and other fashion houses, Amancio Ortega, at 90, has also become the richest real estate entrepreneur in the world, after conquering everything with the Zara empire.
Third place goes to Françoise Bettencourt Meyers of L’Oreal, who is also the richest woman in Europe (and the second richest in the world). Meanwhile, there are many Italians in the ranking, 3 out of 10, a record shared with Germany and France. The richest of ours remains Giovanni Ferrero (and family) according to Bloomberg, a figure that differs from Forbes estimates, which instead crown one of the most famous faces in cryptocurrencies, Giancarlo Devasini, as the richest man in the Bel Paese.
What do Europe’s richest people do?
Behind the numbers, there are industrial stories, entrepreneurial visions, and business models that tell much more than simple fortunes. Let’s try to sketch out a profile of the continent’s “rich guys.”
- Bernard Arnault: Chairman and CEO of the luxury giant LVMH, Arnault controls an empire that includes over 70 brands across fashion, cosmetics, wines, and jewelry, including Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Moët & Chandon. His strategy is based on targeted acquisitions and the valorization of historic brands. In recent years, he has strengthened the group’s global presence, especially in Asia.
- Amancio Ortega: Founder of Inditex, the group that controls Zara, he is a pioneer of fast fashion. After leaving operational management, he focused on real estate investments, becoming one of the largest owners of commercial real estate in the world. He owns assets in key cities such as London, New York, and Madrid.
- Francoise Bettencourt Meyers: Heir to the L’Oréal group, she is vice-chairman of the board of directors and heads the family holding company. In addition to the cosmetics business, she is active in philanthropy and scientific research. Her fortune derives primarily from the global growth of the beauty industry, driven by innovation and emerging markets.
- Giovanni Ferrero and family: CEO of the Ferrero group, one of the largest confectionery manufacturers in the world (Nutella, Kinder, Ferrero Rocher). Under his leadership, the company accelerated international expansion with strategic acquisitions in the United States and Europe. He is known for maintaining an extremely private profile.
- Dieter Schwarz: Founder of the Schwarz group, which includes Lidl and Kaufland, he is a major player in European large-scale retail trade. His model is based on competitive prices and highly efficient supply chains. Despite his wealth, he is known for his total secrecy and near-public absence.
- Klaus-Michael Kuehne: A logistics entrepreneur, he is the main shareholder of Kühne + Nagel, one of the largest shipping and transportation companies in the world. He has expanded his operations by investing in the maritime and aviation sectors, as well as global infrastructure.
- Rodolphe Saade and family: CEO of the CMA CGM group, one of the world’s leading maritime transport companies. He transformed the company into a global integrated logistics player, also investing in media and port infrastructure. The boom in global trade contributed to the growth of his wealth.
- Andy Bechtolsheim: Co-founder of Sun Microsystems and a key investor in Silicon Valley, he is known for funding Google in its early stages. Today, he leads Arista Networks, a leading company in networking technologies for data centers and cloud computing. His wealth comes from technological innovation.
- Ernesto Bertarelli and family: Former CEO of Serono, a biotech company sold to Merck, he built his fortune in the pharmaceutical sector. Today, he is active in biotech investments, sports (sailing), and philanthropy. The family continues to operate in the healthcare sector through various global initiatives.
- Gianluigi Aponte: Founder of MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company), one of the largest maritime transport companies in the world. Starting with a single ship, he built a global logistics empire, also expanding into the cruise sector with MSC Cruises.
What stands out is a key fact: European wealth remains strongly anchored to the real economy. Fashion, distribution, logistics, and manufacturing continue to dominate, with a tech presence still limited compared to the United States. A clear signal of identity, but also a potential challenge for the future.
Original article published on Money.it Italy. Original title: Chi sono i più ricchi d’Europa? Ecco la classifica del 2026
