Top 10 Richest People in Europe 2021

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, has been surpassed as the world's wealthiest individual by the French magnate Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH. Wondering about other European billionaires, particularly any female magnates? Join me as we delve into the top 10 richest individuals in Europe, exploring their identities, residences, and business ventures. Top 10 Richest People in Europe 2021
It's evident that many European billionaires flourished during the tumultuous year of 2020.

Who ranks among the top 10 richest in Europe, and are any of them women?

Top 10 Richest People in Europe

  1. Dieter Schwarz ●● $33.8 billion (Germany)
    Dieter Schwarz is a German businessman best known as the owner and former CEO of the Schwarz Group, the retail conglomerate that operates the supermarket chains Lidl and Kaufland. As one of the world's wealthiest individuals, Schwarz has maintained a notably low profile, seldom appearing in the media or public events. His businesses, particularly Lidl, have seen significant expansion across Europe and beyond, making the Schwarz Group one of the largest retail groups globally.
  2. Gerard Wertheimer ●● $34.3 billion (France)
    Gérard Wertheimer is a French businessman and co-owner of the luxury fashion house Chanel, along with his brother Alain. As heirs to the iconic brand founded by Coco Chanel, the Wertheimer brothers have overseen its growth into a global luxury powerhouse. Despite their immense wealth and influence in the fashion industry, Gérard and his brother are known for their discretion and tend to avoid the limelight, maintaining a low public profile.
  3. Alain Wertheimer ●● $34.3 billion (France)
    Alain Wertheimer is a French businessman who, alongside his brother Gérard, co-owns the renowned luxury fashion brand Chanel. Inheriting the iconic label founded by Coco Chanel, the Wertheimer brothers have been instrumental in its evolution into a global luxury titan. Much like his brother, Alain is known for his reclusive nature, preferring to operate behind the scenes and rarely making public appearances, despite his significant influence in the world of high fashion.
  4. Klaus-Michael Kuehne ●● $34.4 billion (Germany)
    Klaus-Michael Kühne is a German billionaire businessman primarily known for his association with Kühne + Nagel, a global transport and logistics company founded by his grandfather, August Kühne. Over the years, Klaus-Michael has played a pivotal role in the company's expansion and success, holding significant shares and having a substantial influence on its direction. Besides his business endeavors, he's also recognized for his philanthropic efforts and investments in other areas, such as the football club Hamburger SV.
  5. Giovanni Ferrero ●● $35.9 billion (Italy)
    Giovanni Ferrero is an Italian billionaire businessman and the executive chairman of Ferrero Group, the third-largest chocolate producer and confectionery company in the world. The company is renowned for products like Nutella, Ferrero Rocher, Tic Tac, and Kinder. Giovanni, together with his late brother Pietro, inherited the business from their father Michele Ferrero. Following Pietro's untimely death in 2011, Giovanni took the reins of the company, overseeing its continued growth and a series of strategic acquisitions. Despite being at the helm of a global brand, Giovanni is known for maintaining a relatively private profile.
  6. Beate Heister & Karl Albrecht Jr ●● $41.5 billion (Germany)
    Giovanni Ferrero is an Italian billionaire businessman and the executive chairman of Ferrero Group, the third-largest chocolate producer and confectionery company in the world. The company is renowned for products like Nutella, Ferrero Rocher, Tic Tac, and Kinder. Giovanni, together with his late brother Pietro, inherited the business from their father Michele Ferrero. Following Pietro's untimely death in 2011, Giovanni took the reins of the company, overseeing its continued growth and a series of strategic acquisitions. Despite being at the helm of a global brand, Giovanni is known for maintaining a relatively private profile.
  7. François Pinault ●● $57 billion (France)
    François Pinault is a prominent French billionaire businessman and the founder of Kering, an international luxury group known for brands like Gucci, Saint Laurent, and Alexander McQueen. Beyond luxury goods, Pinault's business interests span a range of sectors, including timber trading, retail, and wine. Additionally, he is well-regarded as an art collector and philanthropist, with a significant collection of contemporary artworks. His family, through their holding company Artemis, also owns the auction house Christie's. François Pinault's influence extends beyond business, with his family often playing key roles in the cultural and economic spheres of France.
  8. Amancio Ortega ●● $88.4 billion (Spain)
    Amancio Ortega is a Spanish billionaire magnate who founded Inditex, the world's largest fashion retailer best known for its flagship brand, Zara. Starting with a small bathrobe business, Ortega's entrepreneurial acumen led to the creation of the Zara brand in 1975. Its unique approach to fast fashion revolutionized the retail industry. Over the decades, Inditex expanded its portfolio to include other brands like Massimo Dutti and Pull & Bear. Ortega, often characterized by his discreet and private nature, has consistently been one of the world's wealthiest individuals due to the immense global success of his retail empire.
  9. Francoise Bettencourt Meyers ●● $89.6 billion (France)
    Françoise Bettencourt Meyers is a French heiress and the richest woman in the world as of my last update in 2022. She is the granddaughter of Eugène Schueller, the founder of L'Oréal, the world's leading cosmetic company. Following the death of her mother, Liliane Bettencourt, in 2017, Françoise inherited the family's substantial stake in L'Oréal, ensuring her place among the world's wealthiest individuals. Apart from her business interests, Bettencourt Meyers is also known for her philanthropic endeavors and her work as an author, particularly on topics related to Jewish-Christian relations.
  10. Bernard Arnault ●● $192.4 billion (France)
    Bernard Arnault is a French billionaire business magnate and the chairman and CEO of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, the world's largest luxury goods conglomerate. LVMH's impressive portfolio includes iconic brands such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, Fendi, Moët & Chandon, and many others. Under Arnault's leadership, the group has seen tremendous growth, securing its place as a dominant force in the luxury sector. Often vying for the title of the world's richest person, Arnault is celebrated not only for his business acumen but also for his influence in the worlds of art and culture, being a major patron and collector.

Conclusion

Inside the top 10 richest people in Europe, no fortune is related to technology, all top 10 people come from big European countries, and only 20% are women.

What would it take to:
1. Get more women into the top 10?
2. Get smaller countries into the list?