The daughter of Zara's founders, Sandra Ortega Mera, has been named as Spain's wealthiest woman
The daughter of Zara's founder, Sandra Ortega Mera, has become Spain´s richest woman after inheriting her mother´s stake in the world´s largest fashion retailer.
Inditex, who owns Zara, Pull & Bear, Massimo Dutti and Bershka, operates more than 6,000 stores worldwide and was first set up by Sandra's parents Rosalia Mera and Amancio Ortega in 1963.
Zara was the company's first flagship offering, with the first ever store opening on the high-street 12 years later.
Following her mother Rosalia's death in August earlier this year, 45-year-old Sandra took around 90% of her mother's fortune and now boasts a net worth of $7.3 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Her riches have made her the youngest female European billionaire on Bloomberg´s ranking.
Prior to her death (Sandra's mother Rosalia died from a brain hemorrhage while on holiday with her daughter in Menorca) the mother/daughter duo had been controlling Inditex together following her parents divorce in 1997 - Now, Sandra is the company’s second-largest shareholder.
'Sandra Ortega’s inheritance elevates her into the top wealth sphere in Spain,' said Nicholas Moody, London-based editor at Campden Wealth, a networking community for the world’s wealthiest family businesses.
'The interesting thing to watch will be whether her involvement with Inditex develops and if she takes a more active part in the business.'
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