Ortega vs Buffett

Inditex and Berkshire Hathaway.

The differences

Forbes puts Warren Buffett about $9.5B ahead of Amancio Ortega.Forbes figures from 17 Oct 2026 and 6 Oct 2026.
Amancio Ortega: founded it. Warren Buffett: built it up.
Warren Buffett is about 6 years older than Amancio Ortega.
Warren Buffett has signed the Giving Pledge; Amancio Ortega has not.
Amancio Ortega is from Spain; Warren Buffett is from United States.

Put someone else on either side

Ortega

Buffett

Net worth, Forbes: $142BForbes, 6 Oct 2026; $151BForbes, 17 Oct 2026
Net worth, Bloomberg: $126BBloomberg, 9 Oct 2026; $147BBloomberg, 9 Oct 2026
Forbes rank: No. 10Annual list, 1 Mar 2026; No. 9Annual list, 1 Mar 2026
Billionaire since: 2001First year on a Forbes billionaires list: Forbes says he took Inditex public in 2001 and 'debuted on the Forbes billionaires list the same year' (No. 43, $6.6 billion); Not stated

How it started: Founded itInditex calls him its founder: he started a clothing workshop in 1963, opened the first Zara in 1975, and Inditex was formed as its parent in 1985. Forbes says he co-founded Inditex with his ex-wife Rosalía Mera (d. 2013); Built it upDid not found Berkshire Hathaway: his investment partnership (BPL) began buying its shares in 1962 and took control in May 1965; Forbes lists him as self-made
Main source: Inditex stock, held through Pontegadea Inversiones and PartlerBloomberg: 'The majority of Amancio Ortega's fortune is derived from a 59.3% stake in Inditex'; he has received more than 9 billion euros in dividends since the 2001 IPO, much of it put into property; Berkshire Hathaway stockBloomberg: 'The majority of Warren Buffett's fortune is derived from his interest in Berkshire Hathaway'; the 10-K describes Berkshire as a holding company in insurance, freight rail, utilities and energy, manufacturing, services and retailing
Companies: InditexInditex: Non-executive proprietary director; Berkshire HathawayBerkshire Hathaway: Chairman Emeritus and director (since September 18, 2026)
Biggest stake: Inditex59.294% owned; Berkshire Hathaway13.2% owned

Born: 28 Mar 1936Busdongo de Arbas, Spain; 30 Aug 1930Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Country: SpainLives in A Coruña, Spain; United StatesLives in Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Education: No universityLeft school at 12 to work; Graduate degreeBachelor's degree, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Master of Science, Columbia University
Parents: Born into a working family; began working in the textile trade at a very young ageParents' occupations not stated; His father, Howard, worked in the investment business and was elected to Congress in 1942; his paternal grandparents had a grocery business

Giving Pledge: Not a signer; Signed in 2010Co-founded the Giving Pledge with Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation: Fundación Amancio OrtegaCreated in 2001; works in education and social welfare; Berkshire stock gifts to the Gates Foundation and four family foundationsSince 2006 he has given Berkshire stock to the Gates Foundation and to the Susan Thompson Buffett, Sherwood, Howard G. Buffett and NoVo foundations
Lifetime giving: Not stated; $72BForbes, 15 Sep 2026. Forbes: 'So far he has given away more than $72 billion, mostly through the Gates Foundation and his kids' foundations'. The Gates Foundation reports $47.9 billion from him through 2025

Role now: On the boardNon-executive director of Inditex; chief executive of Pontegadea; On the boardChairman Emeritus and director of Berkshire Hathaway
Successor: His daughter Marta Ortega Pérez, non-executive chair of Inditex since April 1, 2022Óscar García Maceiras has been CEO since 2021; his wife Flora Pérez Marcote is also a director; Greg Abel (CEO since January 1, 2026); Howard G. Buffett (chairman since September 18, 2026)The company notices give the roles but don't state Howard Buffett's relationship to him
Public office: None found; None found
Legal record: 2013: Supreme Court of SpainThe Supreme Court rejected his final appeal in a dispute with tax auditors, leaving him to pay 33 million euros in back taxes for 2001 to 2003.; None found