How Zara’s reclusive founder became the 16th richest man on earth without ever chasing fame

Once Zara proved the model worked, Ortega didn’t stop. He expanded Inditex to include brands like Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, and even Zara Home. Each brand had its own identity, but all shared the same principles: customer-first thinking, speed, and efficiency. By keeping production close to home and controlling every step of the supply chain, Ortega ensured that his stores received new stock twice a week. That pace of change kept shoppers hooked.

International expansion began in the late 1980s with a store in Portugal, followed by Europe, the Americas, and beyond. By the time Inditex went public in 2001, Ortega became Spain’s richest man almost overnight, with wealth exceeding ₹40,000 crore. Over time, he expanded into real estate, quietly building a portfolio of iconic properties from Madrid to Manhattan to London, hosting tenants like Amazon and Facebook.