15 Spanish billionaires on the latest Forbes rich list, led by Amancio Ortega, the owner of the Inditex/Zara textile empire. He has 9.1 billion € more now that at the worst part of the recession; in 2009 he had 18.3 billion dollars, and now it is put at 31 billion dollars. He occupies 7th place for the third consecutive year.
Spain’s 15 on the list is two more than last year, despite the collapse of the real estate market here over recent years. President of Forbes editorial group, Steve Forbes, said that he hoped the Spanish Government would act to encourage businessmen, suggesting they place a flat tax, as seen in other European countries.
Second placed Spaniard, also from the textile industry is Isak Andic, the founder of Mango who is 159th on the list with 6.1 billion dollars, and the ex wife of Amancio Ortega, Rosalía Mera is next at 254th with 4.2 billion $ as the richest woman in Spain.
Real Estate promoter, Manuel Jové is at 376th, and the Chairman of Mercadona supermarkets, Juan Roig is at 393rd, in the list for the first time.
Emilio Botin, the Chairman of Santander has fallen from 582nd to 833rd on the list with 1.5 billion $, down 143 million € on last year.
Alicia Koplowitz is 512th and her sister Ester is at 651st with a tie with Florentino Pérez, the Chairman of Real Madrid.
Steel businessman José María Aristrain is 736th, real estate businessman Enrique Bañuelos is 879th, the same as hotelier Gabriel Escarrer, the founder of the Melía Group.
The last three Spaniards are Juan Abelló who is 938th, and the ex husbands of the Koplowitz sisters, Alberto Alcocer and Alberto Cortina who are both at 993rd.
is more alive than ever in Granada thanks to the Retroback International Classic Film Festival which opened on Friday and which continues until April 3.
to be allowed on (some of) the pavements in Spain: "Following on from the plan announced by the DGT traffic authority to reduce the maximum speed limit in all towns and cities to 30 kms/hour when there is a single lane in each direction, now comes detail on how cyclists are to get greater rights.
avalanche: "The search for a British mountaineer who was trapped in an avalanche in the Sierra Nevada on Sunday was called off when night fell. Two fellow climbers managed to escape from the avalanche unaided, but the third who is known to be British, but who has not yet been named remains under the snow.
