Amancio Ortega Age, Wiki, Wife, Family, Career, Net Worth

Amancio Ortega, born on March 28, 1936 (90 years old) in Busdongo de Arbas, León, Spain, is a very successful businessman and one of the richest people in the world.

He is best known as the founder of Zara, a popular clothing brand that sells trendy clothes at low prices. He also started Inditex, the company that owns Zara and other brands like Bershka and Massimo Dutti.

Ortega started with very little. He left school when he was just 14 and began working in a small clothing shop. Slowly, with hard work and smart ideas, he built one of the biggest fashion companies in the world.

His idea of making clothes quickly and selling them fast in stores helped Zara grow in many countries.

Continue reading Amancio Ortega’s Wiki to find out more about his wife, children, family, education, business story, net worth, and more.

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Amancio Ortega Wiki & Early Life

Full Name	Amancio Ortega Gaona
Profession	Businessman (Founder, Inditex; investor via Pontegadea)
Age	90 years old
Date of Birth	March 28, 1936
Nationality	Spanish
Zodiac/Sun Sign	Aries
Birthplace	Busdongo de Arbas, León, Spain
Current Address	A Coruña, Galicia

Amancio Ortega Wife & Children

Amancio Ortega is married. He has been married twice in his life.

First Wife

Amancio’s first wife was Rosalía Mera. They got married in the 1960s, but the exact wedding date and venue are yet to be updated.

Rosalía was not just his wife but also his business partner. Together, they started Zara in 1975.

Sadly, their marriage ended in divorce in 1986. Later, Rosalía became one of the richest self-made women in the world before she passed away in 2013.

Second Wife

After many years, Amancio married again. His second and current wife is Flora Pérez Marcote.

They got married in the year 2001. The wedding took place in Galicia, Spain, but the exact location is yet to be updated.

Flora has also worked in the Inditex group and is known to keep a low profile, just like Amancio.

Children

Sandra Ortega Mera

Sandra Ortega Mera, born on July 19, 1968, is the eldest daughter of Amancio Ortega and his first wife, Rosalía Mera. She is a well-known businesswoman and philanthropist.

After her mother’s passing, Sandra inherited a large part of the family’s wealth and is now considered one of the richest women in Spain.

She leads a quiet life and focuses much of her time on charitable work, especially in the health and social sectors.

Marcos Ortega Mera

Marcos Ortega Mera is the only son of Amancio Ortega and Rosalía Mera. He was born in 1971, though his exact birthdate is yet to be updated. Marcos was born with cerebral palsy and has always stayed out of the public eye.

His condition deeply influenced the family, especially Rosalía, who went on to support many causes related to health and disability through her foundation work.

Marta Ortega Pérez

Marta Ortega Pérez, born on January 10, 1984, is the youngest child of Amancio Ortega and his second wife, Flora Pérez Marcote.

Marta has been closely involved with the Inditex Group for many years. In 2022, she became the chairwoman of Inditex, stepping into a leadership role and continuing her father’s legacy.

Marta is often seen as the future face of the Zara brand, combining modern vision with strong business values.

Relationship Status	Married
Wife	First wife: Rosalía Mera Current wife: Flora Pérez Marcote
Children	Daughter: Sandra & Marta Son: Marcos

Amancio Ortega Family

Amancio grew up in a working-class family where money was tight, and education ended early.

Father

Amancio Ortega’s father was Antonio Ortega Rodríguez. He worked as a railway worker, which meant the family moved often during Ortega’s early years.

Antonio earned a modest income, and the family lived a humble life. His strong work ethic likely influenced Amancio’s dedication and discipline in later years.

Mother

His mother, Josefa Gaona Hernández, worked as a maid for a local household. She played a big role in raising the children and supporting the family despite financial struggles.

Josefa was known to be kind and hardworking, and Amancio has spoken about how much he respected her strength and resilience.

Siblings

Amancio Ortega has three siblings: two older sisters and one older brother.

Pilar Ortega Gaona: She is one of Amancio’s older sisters. Pilar has kept a low public profile, and not much else is known about her.
Josefa Ortega Gaona: Another sister who is also very private. Like the rest of the family, she stays away from media attention.
Antonio Ortega Gaona: Amancio’s older brother. He also led a private life, and details about his career or involvement in business are yet to be updated.

Parent’s Name	Father: Antonio Ortega Rodríguez Mother: Josefa (Josefina) Gaona Hernández
Siblings	Brother: Antonio Ortega Gaona Sisters: Pilar and Josefa Ortega Gaona

Amancio Ortega Education

Amancio Ortega studied at Colegio Sagrado Corazón in Tolosa, Spain, during his early years. However, he left school at the age of 14 due to financial problems at home.

He never attended college or received any formal higher education. Instead, he began working at a local shirt store in A Coruña, where he learned the basics of clothing and retail.

School	Attended Colegio Sagrado Corazón in Tolosa
Alma Mater	Dropped out
Highest Qualification	Primary-school level

Amancio Ortega Career

Amancio Ortega’s career began when he was just 14 years old. After dropping out of school, he found work as a shop assistant at a local clothing store named Gala in A Coruña, Spain.

His job was simple; he helped around the shop and watched how clothes were made and sold.

But this experience gave him something priceless: a full view of how the fashion and retail world worked, from sewing fabrics to satisfying customers.

First Step into Business

In 1963, Ortega took a big step. With a small team that included his first wife and a few local seamstresses, he started a workshop that made quilted bathrobes.

He named the business Confecciones Goa, which was his initials reversed. They made robes for other brands, and the business grew quietly but steadily.

The Birth of Zara

In 1975, Ortega and his wife Rosalía Mera opened their first clothing store, which they named Zara.

The idea was different from other stores at the time. Instead of selling expensive fashion, they offered trendy clothes at affordable prices and restocked them very quickly based on customer demand.

Inditex – The Fashion Empire

As Zara stores expanded across Spain, Ortega realized he needed a bigger structure to manage the growing business.

So, in 1985, he created a parent company called Inditex (Industria de Diseño Textil).

Inditex became the powerhouse behind Zara and other brands like:

Massimo Dutti – for elegant, professional fashion
Pull&Bear – for younger, urban styles
Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, and more

Under Inditex, Ortega created a unique system where new clothing designs could move from sketch to store shelves in just a few weeks, faster than any other brand at the time.

Global Success

Through the 1990s and 2000s, Inditex expanded rapidly into Europe, the U.S., Asia, and Latin America.

Zara became a global name, with thousands of stores worldwide. What made Ortega stand out was not just his success, but how quietly he achieved it.

He rarely gave interviews, avoided public events, and didn’t even have a photo published until much later in his life.

Stepping Away from the Spotlight

In 2011, Amancio Ortega stepped down as the chairman of Inditex, handing over leadership while remaining the company’s largest shareholder.

In 2022, his daughter Marta Ortega took over as chairwoman of Inditex. She had been working in the company for years and now leads the future of the fashion empire.

New Chapter – Real Estate Empire

After stepping back from Inditex’s daily operations, Ortega focused more on real estate through his investment company Pontegadea.

Today, he owns high-value buildings in cities like London, New York, Madrid, and Miami.

His real estate portfolio includes offices, hotels, and shopping centers, making him one of the most powerful property owners in Europe.

Year	Role	Company/Network
1950	Shop Assistant	Gala (shirtmaker)
1963	Started a robe-making business	Confecciones Goa
1975	Co-founder and Store Owner	Zara
1985	Founder and Chairman	Inditex
1990s–2000s	Global Expansion Leader	Inditex (Zara & others)
2011	Stepped Down as Chairman	Inditex
2022	Daughter Marta Ortega became Chairwoman	Inditex
Ongoing	Real Estate Investor	Pontegadea Inversiones

Awards and Achievements

Amancio Ortega has received several honors for his impact on business, fashion, and philanthropy.

Here are some of his notable awards:

Year	Award / Recognition	Why He Received It
2001	Gold Medal of Merit in Labour (Spain)	For outstanding contributions to Spain’s industry and economy
2009	Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit	High honors given by the Spanish state for service to the nation
2017	AEF Award for Philanthropic Initiative	Awarded by the Spanish Association of Foundations for charitable work via his foundation

Controversies

Amancio Ortega and his company have faced several controversies over the years.

Below is a timeline of key issues linked to him and Inditex:

Year	Controversy	Details
2007	Offensive Product – Swastika Bag	Zara sold a handbag with a swastika symbol. After public outrage, it was quickly pulled from stores.
2013	Tax Evasion Ruling	Spain’s Supreme Court ordered Ortega to pay €33 million in back taxes for income earned from 2001 to 2003.
2014	Concentration Camp Shirt	Zara released a striped child’s shirt with a yellow star, resembling Holocaust camp uniforms. It was removed, and the company apologized.
2017	Design Plagiarism Case	Zara Home lost a court case in Belgium for copying a local artist’s designs. This was one of the first plagiarism rulings against a fast-fashion brand.
Ongoing	Labor Exploitation Claims	NGOs and news reports have accused Zara suppliers in Morocco, Brazil, and Argentina of using sweatshops and underpaying workers.
Ongoing	Tax Avoidance Accusations	Reports claim Inditex avoided €585 million in taxes through legal loopholes across Europe, though the company denies wrongdoing.
Ongoing	Environmental Criticism	Zara’s fast-fashion model is blamed for contributing to clothing waste, overproduction, and high carbon emissions.

Amancio Ortega Net Worth, Salary

Amancio Ortega’s net worth is estimated at around $126 billion, making him the richest person in Spain and one of the wealthiest in the world. His annual income is still to be updated.

Net Worth in Dollars (Approx.)	126 billion
Salary (Approx.)	Yet to be updated

Amancio Ortega Height, Weight & Physical Stats

Amancio Ortega has a modest and classic appearance. He is around 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) tall and weighs approximately 86 kg (190 lbs). In his older age, he has short gray hair and dark brown eyes.

Ortega prefers wearing simple, well-fitted clothes, usually a white shirt and blazer, matching his low-key personality. He avoids luxury displays, often choosing comfort over show.

Height	In centimetres: 173 cm In meters: 1.73 m In feet & inches: 5 feet 8 inches
Weight	In kg: 86 kg In lbs: 190 lbs
Body Measurements	Yet to be updated
Hair Color	Gray
Eye Color	Dark brown