16 Greeks in Forbes' Billionaires 2018 List
There’s a man who was homeless, another whose running shoes are coveted by top athletes, an owner of two professional sports teams who survived a plane crash, a shipping tycoon, real estate magnate, entrepreneur investor, mining company owner, and a banker.
Across the spectrum of business and sports, they are – or were, in the case of two who died, Peter Peterson at number 12 and in 10th, Los Angeles Chargers owner Alex Spanos – the 16 wealthiest Greeks on Forbes magazine’s list of the world’s 2,208 billionaires from 72 countries and territories, whose net worth is $9.1 trillion, up 18 percent from the previous year as the rich keep getting richer. Their average net worth of $4.1 billion puts them in rarefied air.
At the top is JIM DAVIS, owner of New Balance, the running and sports shoe company in Boston, who came in 365th in the world, with a net worth of $5.3 billion. He was born in 1943 in the United States to Greek immigrant parents and in 1972, on the day of the running of the Boston Marathon, bought New Balance and, with the help of six workers, made 30 pairs of running shoes a day. Now his company has 4,000 workers and his shoes are on the feet of some of the world’s top runners as well as amateurs.
2. TOM GORES
In 572nd place with a fortune of $3.9 billion is Tom Gores, the founder of Platinum Equity, a private equity firm with headquarters in Beverly Hills, and owner of the Detroit Piston of the NBA. He was born in Nazareth, Israel to a Greek father and a Lebanese mother, a practicing Catholic family.
The family moved to Michigan when he was four and after earning a degree at Michigan State, his and his brother Alec, who ranks 11th in the Greek-American list, began buying up companies.
He founded Capital Equity in 1995, one of the largest private companies in the United States.
3. JOHN PAUL DE JORIA
The owner of John Paul Mitchell System, a hair products company, De Joria once was homeless and slept in his car. No longer. He ranks 729th in the world with a worth of $3.2 billion. He was born to immigrant parents, a Greek mother and Italian father.
He sold shampoo door-to-door before he teamed up with Paul Mitchell in 1980 and turned $700 into hair-care outfit John Paul Mitchell Systems. The company is still going strong with an estimated $1 billion in annual revenues. DeJoria also has interests in a range of industries, including life sciences, yachts and telecom.
4. SPIRO LATSIS
With a worth of $3.2 billion, Latsis, 72, comes in 729th. He has been managing the family fortune since his father, Greek shipping tycoon John S. Latsis, passed away in 2003. The family still has a place in its most noted sector, operating Latsco Shipping, which owns a fleet of more than a dozen oil tankers and liquefied petroleum gas carriers.
5. JOHN CATSIMATIDIS
He ran for Mayor of New York and is known for operating the largest chain of food supermarkets in New York and Florida and 400 gas stations and a large holding of real estate, which put John Catsimatidis 766th in the world with a worth of $3.1 billion.
He moved with his family from Greece to New York when he was an infant and grew up in an apartment in Harlem. He worked as a grocery clerk while attending NYU but dropped out for the chance to own a piece of that shop. He opened his own grocery store in 1969 and had 10 stores by age 25.
6. PHILIP NIARCHOS
He of the famous name is 859th in the world with an estimated fortune of $2.8 billion. Philip Niarchos is the oldest son of the late Stavros Niarchos, one of the world’s richest shipping magnates. The oldest of his four children with Eugenia Livianos, he inherited the bulk of his father’s art collection.
7. DEAN METROPOULOS
An acquirer of iconic brands he turns around, Metropoulos came in 965th with $2.5 billion in his bank.
He snapped up Hostess Foods, the cupcake company, for $419 million in 2013, saving it from bankruptcy. In November 2016, Metropoulos and Apollo took Hostess public via a special purpose acquisition entity created by billionaire Alec Gores’ private equity firm, The Gores Group. This was not the first time that Metropoulos, who emigrated from Greece with his parents at age 10, took a beaten-down brand and spruced it up, including making Pabst Blue Ribbon beer the choice of hipsters, the young and the cool.
8. ARISTOTELIS MISTAKIDIS
The director of Glencore”s copper business, with a 3 percent stake, Mistakidis, known as Telis, came in 965th with a worth of $2.5 billion. A citizen of both the United Kingdom and his native Greece, he attained billionaire status in 2011 when the IPO of Glencore went public on the London Stock Exchange.
9. GEORGE ARGYROS
Coming in at number 1020 with a worth of $2.4 billion, falling nine spots from 2017, Argyros is a noted real estate investor and was US Ambassador to Spain.
He runs Arnel & Affiliates, which owns 5,500 apartments in Orange County, Calif. and nearly two million square feet of commercial real estate in southern California. Until recently, he was also a board member of DST Systems, First American Financial Corp. and Pacific Mercantile bank; he remains a shareholder in these and a handful of other companies.
11. ALEC GORES
He is in 1157th place with a fortune of $2.1 billion. Gores started bagging groceries at his uncle’s store soon after arriving; he didn’t speak any English at the time.
13. JAMIE DIMON
The outspoken CEO of JP Morgan Chase, Dimon ranks 1,756th with a fortune of $1.3 billion and is one of the most powerful people in the world in the field of finance. He was named four times by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world and toyed with the idea of running for President in 2020.
14. FILARET GALCHEV
His name may be unfamiliar to Greeks and the Diaspora but Filaretos Kaltsidis – better known in Russia, where he lives as Filaret Galchev, is 2124th with a worth of $1 billion but until 2015 was number one among Greeks of the world, with $4.4 billion.
15. TED LEONSIS
His Washington Capitals won the Stanley Cup of the National Hockey Association and Ted Leonsis, who survived a plane crash at the age of 26, is number 2124 with a worth of $1 billion, the standard he set for himself to reach. He also owns the Washington Wizards of the NBA.
Born in Brooklyn in 1957, he grew up in Lowell, Massachusetts, where as a student he worked bagging groceries. Child of second-generation immigrants, coming from a poor family, he was graduated from Georgetown and made his mark in public relations, marketing and IT, once heading AOL.
16. GEORGE MARCUS
Born George Moutsanas in 1941 in Euboea, Greece, Marcus ranks 2124th as well, with a fortune of $1 billion. He is the founder and Chairman of Marcus and Millichap Company, the parent company of a diversified group of real estate, service, investment and development firms.
Read more at thenationalherald.com
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
- 1) Greek Tourism Minister concludes meetings with luxury travel officials in New York
- 2) Golden Visa bonus for foreigners buying luxury homes at Ellinikon in Athens
- 3) Media: Curved luxury high-rise residences will anchor Hellenikon development
- 4) Media: Greece to limit crowds in popular spots and allow luxury developments
25/04 22:00
Greek FM talks with Kuwaiti counterpart on bilateral relations, regional cooperation
25/04 14:49
Prices of products in Easter Basket the same or lower in Greece than in 2023
25/04 13:57
25/04 12:44
Greece and China to ink cooperation protocols in the fisheries sector
25/04 09:53
Extended shop opening hours for Easter in Greece start on Thursday
25/04 02:19
Athens Airport voted as the best in marketing strategy at European awards in Denmark
25/04 02:10
President of Hellenic Republic visits La Chascona Museum in visit to Chile
24/04 21:31
Thirty-one Greek political parties to take part in European Parliament elections
24/04 21:25
Payment by bank cards now accepted on Athens Airport Express bus lines
24/04 14:12
Herculaneum papyri unveil more than location of Plato's tomb in Athens
23/04 23:52
Greece’s New Ambassador to the United States visits Queens in New York
23/04 21:49
Traffic regulations in Athens due to the Olympic Torch Relay on Thursday-Friday
23/04 20:59
President of Hellenic Republic wraps up visit to Uruguay at parliament
23/04 15:44
Greek government will pass legislation halving commission paid for POS transactions
23/04 15:03
Precise location of Plato's burial site unveiled by ancient papyrus
22/04 22:33
'Nature Positive' peport highlights new collaborative era in travel & tourism
22/04 21:25
22/04 20:37
Greek and Turkish delegations discuss Confidence Building Measures for 2024
22/04 18:29
Over 114,000 Greek Diaspora citizens register to vote by post in the European elections
22/04 13:40
19/04 01:29
Athens State Orchestra presents 'St. Matthew's Passion' by Bach on April 30th
18/04 21:49
Greek Climate Change Minister signs memorandum for Attica fire protection zones
18/04 20:32
'Easter Basket' and 'Godparents basket' to be put into effect next week in Greece
18/04 20:17
18/04 17:40
17/04 21:06
Thessaloniki Port: Performance growth for 2023 with record container throughput
17/04 20:57
Traffic regulations imposed in Athens for the 41st Peace Marathon on Sunday
17/04 20:52
17/04 18:15
Greek Foreign Minister addresses the 9th Our Ocean Conference in Athens
17/04 17:12
16/04 21:02
NHM hosts the Trial of Pericles at the Harris Theater in Chicago on April 17
16/04 20:17
Greece will invest $830 million to protect marine biodiversity
16/04 01:46
New York Greek Independence Parade honors 1821 and solemn Cyprus Anniversary
16/04 01:35
Olympic Games Paris 2024: Olympic Flame to be lit at Ancient Olympia in Greece
16/04 00:29
European Committee of Regions and UN release study on Rural Tourism
15/04 20:41
15/04 19:58
Minister: Greece is transforming into a hub for exporting quality agri-food products
15/04 18:51
Greek Environment Minister meets Chinese Deputy Minister of Natural Resources
13/04 00:13
UN Tourism and Croatia to launch Research Centre for Sustainable Tourism
12/04 00:03
2024 marks a critical year in the enduring strength of Greek-German relations
12/04 00:00
11/04 22:07
Ambassador: US committed to upgrade of Greek military and support NATO's SE flank
11/04 19:40
Hellenic Pride on display at rainy Chicago Greek Independence Day Parade
11/04 02:06
Delphi Economic Forum IX: Energy collaboration a 'key' in Greek-Bulgarian relations
11/04 01:58
UN Tourism launches investment guidelines for Albania sector
10/04 19:01
Greek FinMin: New package of economic measures in 2025 to lower taxes, raise pensions
10/04 18:25
Greek city of Nafplion hosts Mediterranean Yacht Show for ninth year running
09/04 23:57
Greek PM on Tilos: Innovative projects for a cyclical economy are of key significance
09/04 23:55
UN Tourism members promote agenda for Europe as region leads global recovery
09/04 23:46
HFS presents 1968, Rousing Docudrama about Greece’s First European Cup April 21
09/04 22:48
Stolen 7th-century BC oenochoe returned to Greece by Hanover museum, municipality
09/04 22:42
Greek civil servants confederation ADEDY to strike on May 21
09/04 21:55
Greek Migration Minister meets Senior US Coordinator for Lawful Migration
08/04 23:48
08/04 23:41
Elliniko-Argyroupoli Mayor marches in Greek Independence Philadelphia Parade
08/04 21:53
Project Voria casino complex in Maroussi moving ahead after environmental report
08/04 21:36
Minister: Up to 120 delegations to take part in 9th Our Ocean Conference in Athens
08/04 19:22
Direct flight from Shanghai to Athens offers access to key tourism market for Greece
08/04 18:31
AI conference to attract distinguished speakers to Thessaloniki on April 25-27
04/04 23:28
City of San Jose marks March 25 with 16th Annual Greek Flag Raising Event
04/04 22:16
Urban plans published for seven townships in Thessaloniki and Attica of Greece
04/04 17:24
FinMin: The new EU economic and fiscal framework is good for Greece
04/04 15:30
Greek PM meets with the chiefs of the international pharmaceutical manufacturers
04/04 00:15
Deputy Minister for Macedonia-Thrace meets US Embassy Deputy Mission Chief
03/04 20:12
Syracuse AHEPA Chapter 37 marks March 25th Greek Independence Day
03/04 18:10
Greece's Delphi Economic Forum on April 10-13 to focus on 'The Great Transition'
03/04 16:42
Minister: Industrial production has returned to the pre-crisis levels in Greece
02/04 18:06
30/03 23:21
Eleni Gatzoyiannis scholarship offered to Greek students at Boston University
29/03 16:44
3rd edition of 'This is Athens - City Festival' with 250+ events from May 1 until June 2
29/03 15:53
Athens Metro station Aghia Varvara to stay closed on Saturday and Sunday
29/03 13:55
Greek Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy concludes visit to Montenegro
29/03 12:00
29/03 11:51
28/03 18:41
Attica Region to channel 640 bln euros to services of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups
28/03 17:32
Greece to auction three-month T-bills on April 3, 2024 in a book entry form
28/03 15:46
Greece's Meteora Pyli Geopark added to UNESCO Global Geoparks network
28/03 14:44
IPTO announces framework agreement tender for undersea power cables in Greece
28/03 11:49
IOBE: Construction sector in Greece records robust growth and good prospects
26/03 23:51
St. Thomas Hellenic School honors 1821 and the Feast of the Annunciation in NJ
26/03 21:59
PM at Economic Club of Canada: Greece is an attractive investment destination
26/03 17:56
Greek State budget primary balance reaches a surplus of 3,378 million euros
26/03 11:45
Ancient Messene to get upgraded visitors' facilities after approval by Council
23/03 17:43
New requirements for 'Golden Visa' program to kick in on March 31
23/03 16:49
Athenians continue to head out of the Greek Capital for March 25 long weekend
23/03 16:47
Greek Parliament lights to be turned off for Earth Hour 8:30-9:30 pm
22/03 21:54
US President on Greek Independence Day: Alliance with Greece stronger than ever
22/03 19:51
High diplomacy and geopolitics at Delphi Economic Forum IX in Greece
22/03 19:32
Tax authorities enable payments with foreign bank cards in Greece
22/03 14:19
22/03 00:24
Greece ranks first on list of countries with fastest business environment progress
22/03 00:02
Hellenic Police acquires first electric VAN-type highway patrol vehicle
21/03 22:41
21/03 15:33
Unseen Museum presents "The stele of the twin babies" exhibition in Athens
20/03 22:48
Health Minister: 95% of Greek hospitals to perform afternoon surgeries
20/03 21:52
Greek Deputy Minister of Justice meets delegation from US Embassy in Athens
20/03 21:44
Greek Interior Minister to visit United States and Canada on postal vote
20/03 20:55
Philadelphia Icarians mark 85th Anniversary and organize Apokriatiko Dance
20/03 18:01
Development Minister: We continue the battle against high prices in Greece
19/03 22:28
President of the Hellenic Republic meets her Ethiopian counterpart in Athens
Greek FM talks with Kuwaiti counterpart on bilateral relations, regional cooperation
Greece and China to ink cooperation protocols in the fisheries sector
Prices of products in Easter Basket the same or lower in Greece than in 2023
Extended shop opening hours for Easter in Greece start on Thursday
Herculaneum papyri unveil more than location of Plato's tomb in Athens
Athens Airport voted as the best in marketing strategy at European awards in Denmark
Thirty-one Greek political parties to take part in European Parliament elections
President of Hellenic Republic visits La Chascona Museum in visit to Chile
Payment by bank cards now accepted on Athens Airport Express bus lines
Traffic regulations in Athens due to the Olympic Torch Relay on Thursday-Friday
Precise location of Plato's burial site unveiled by ancient papyrus
Bill lifting restrictions for Greeks voting from abroad greenlighted by majority vote
Deadline to file taxes is extended in Greece to July 31 by Finance Ministry
Hellenic-American Cultural Foundation presents lecture with US University President
Greek capital of Athens among top-10 most beautiful cities for the second time
Greek supermarkets record rise in value and decline in volume of FMCG sales
World Taste Atlas: Greek cuisine is the second best on the planet
New publication: 'I am not Maria - I am Callas: Her real life and an eon of myths'
Greece’s New Ambassador to the United States visits Queens in New York
Tri-city winter luncheon unites upstate New York Philoptochos chapters
Priceless antiquities returned to the people of Greece at New York Consulate
Impressive statue of Hercules unearthed in Philippi of Northern Greece
Severe weather front to continue across Greece until Wednesday (video)