A record dividend of €3.23bn is headed to Zara founder Amancio Ortega following a stellar year for the Inditex group. The payment is the result of a 4% increase in dividends announced on Wednesday, following a year where pre-tax profits reached €8bn. Ortega, who remains the majority owner of the firm, will receive the funds in two payments throughout the 2026 calendar year.
The performance of Inditex’s flagship brand, Zara, alongside other labels like Pull&Bear and Stradivarius, pushed total sales to an all-time high of €39.9bn. While the company closed 103 stores over the past twelve months, it successfully increased its total selling space by moving into larger, more strategic locations. This pivot toward higher-capacity stores has proven highly effective in boosting per-square-meter revenue.
Ortega’s net worth has swelled to over $126bn, fueled by his continued control of nearly 60% of Inditex. Known for his modest demeanor, the 89-year-old entrepreneur still visits the company’s Spanish headquarters regularly. His daughter, Marta Ortega Pérez, has taken the reins as chair, overseeing a period of significant technological and aesthetic evolution for the brand.
Reinvestment has long been a hallmark of Ortega’s financial strategy, particularly in the commercial real estate sector. His holdings include some of the most expensive office and retail spaces in New York, London, and Miami. These investments are often timed to coincide with dividend payouts, helping him manage wealth tax liabilities while diversifying his massive fortune.
Inditex is looking toward a future defined by high-tech retail and specialized store concepts. The company is investing heavily in AI avatars for online fitting and is planning a significant push into the UK market with its Lefties brand. With a 9% sales increase recorded in the first weeks of the new year, the company’s expansion into new territories like Norway and the Caribbean island of Curacao is off to a promising start.