The richest people from 18 European countries

European rich people can be divided into two groups. If the former possess the state accumulated by their ancestors for many generations, the latter themselves made their way to world fame, and sometimes this was possible even for representatives of the lower strata of society.

In the West European countries, very rich people are mostly from the ancient noble families. Representatives of Scandinavia became wealthy at the expense of their industrial enterprises. The East Europe got billionaires only after the disappearance of the Soviet Union, when local entrepreneurs had the opportunity to start their own business.

Thanks to the magazine Forbes it became possible to calculate the most wealthy resident of each of the countries of Europe.

Ion Ciriac (Romania)

The wealthiest citizen of Romania is known under the nickname Bulldozer from Brasov. Its wealth, which is estimated at $ 1 billion, was able to unite Ciriac only after the overthrow of the dictatorship of Ceausescu in 1989. Ion got rich on banking investments. Also actively engaged in trade and insurance.

Tatyana Kaziraghi (Monaco)

Beer Princess Tatiana Santo Domingo is the most wealthy resident of the Principality of Monaco. The bulk of her wealth, equal to $ 2.3 billion, is an inheritance that she inherited from her late grandfather. He in 2005 sold his famous brewery "Bavaria" in Colombia for a fabulous amount. Tatiana is also the wife of Prince Andrea Casiraghi, the fourth candidate for the throne of the Principality of Monaco.

Antti Herlin (Finland)

The representative of the richest Finnish family also inherited its fortune, estimated at $ 3.7 billion. His great-grandfather Harald Henlin in the 1920s bought the engineering firm KONE, specializing in the manufacture of elevators and escalators. Now it is one of the three largest companies operating in this industry.

Sebastian and Dominika Kulchiki (Poland)

Brother and sister divided equally the state of the deceased father in 2015, amounting to $ 3.7 billion. Together they manage expensive family assets and companies.

Ameriko Amorim (Portugal)

The Portuguese earned his fortune of $ 4.6 billion, thanks to the world-famous cork company. He managed to develop a family business, which began almost 150 years ago with the tiny plant of his grandfather. In addition to the cork company, he owns assets throughout Europe and in Angola, as well as Amorim, the controlling shareholder in the second-largest Portuguese mobile operator.

Albert Frer (Belgium)

This Belgian businessman fabulously got rich in the 1970s thanks to the production of steel. His fortune is estimated at $ 4.6 billion. In addition to metallurgy, Freer invests in other industries. For his great contribution to the development of the country's economy, the Belgian king gave him the title of Baron.

Odd Reitan (Norway)

This Scandinavian rich man, whose assets are valued at $ 8.5 billion, made his fortune thanks to trade. He owns the largest supermarket chain in Norway. In 2012, Reitan published his book. In it, Odd suggested that he might become the next Norwegian king.

Ernesto Bertarelli (Switzerland)

The Swiss businessman got rich by selling the pharmaceutical company Serono, founded by his grandfather. After the deal, his fortune is $ 8.6 billion.

John Fredriksen (Cyprus)

This billionaire, whose fortune is $ 9.9 billion, would move Odda Reitana to the list of Norwegian money-bags if she stayed in her country. However, John Fredriksen accepted the citizenship of Cyprus. He is considered one of the most influential and wealthy oil barons in the world. Fredriksen made his fortune on deliveries of "black gold" during the armed conflict in the Persian Gulf.

Charlaine de Carvalho-Heineken (The Netherlands)

The name of the richest woman in Holland clearly indicates the origin of her condition. She inherited about $ 12 billion from her grandfather Gerard Heineken, who founded the brewing company of the same name in the beginning of the century before last. Now Charlene is the head of the firm.

Kjell Kirk Christiansen (Denmark)

The Danish billionaire earned his wealth thanks to the company "Lego". His grandfather Ole Kirk is the founder of the plant of the most famous designers for children. Assets owned by Kjell are estimated at $ 12.7 billion.

Sri and Gopi Hinduj (Great Britain)

Sri and Gopi, who have become British citizenship, are half the so-called "Fantastic Four" - a family that owns the huge Hinduja Group, based in London. On their accounts is a colossal amount - $ 14.7 billion.

Dietrich Mateschitz (Austria)

The richest inhabitant of Austria made a huge fortune, estimated at $ 15.8 billion, thanks to the company he founded, Red Bull. Mateschitz still has almost half of the shares. Dietrich can safely be called a successful businessman, but not a decent student - it took him ten years to graduate from university.

Stefan Persson (Sweden)

Stephen Persson - the owner of a controlling stake in the international chain of fashion stores H & M, which was founded by his father Erling. The son of the owner of the 20-milion state Karl-Johan acts as the general director of the company.

Georg Scheffler (Germany)

The most wealthy resident of Germany, Scheffler, whose wealth is estimated at $ 20.2 billion, together with his mother own the company for the production of bearings Schaeffler Group.

Maria Franca Fissolo and Giovanni Ferrero (Italy)

After the death of Michel Ferrero, his wife and son inherited the world-famous confectionery company named in their honor. Giovanni is the CEO of the company, which brought his family a huge fortune - about $ 24.8 billion.

Lillian Bettancourt (France)

Bettankur is the wealthiest woman not only of France, but of the whole of Europe. She owns assets for an astronomical amount - $ 38.5 billion. She owns a third share of the cosmetics firm L'Oreal. Because of fits of dementia, Lillian has recently almost completely retired.

Amancio Ortega (Spain)

The richest resident of the continent, Amancio Ortega, has made a huge fortune of $ 71.2 billion, thanks to the company Inditex, which owns 6750 stores in 88 countries. Especially popular was the network of fashion boutiques Zara. According to the size of wealth Ortega is second only to one person - Bill Gates.