For a few
days this week Bill Gates was no longer the richest man in the world. That
title belonged to Amancio Ortega, the founder of Zara. The fluctuating fortunes
of the share market meant that Gates has since regained the number one position
but it is obviously an ongoing battle.
But back
to the point - a retailer became the richest man in the world, and this man
started as a store clerk who opened his first Zara store in 1975. Ortega holds
shares in Inditex, the parent company to Zara, Massimo Dutti, Pull&Bear and
other brands. According to Forbes he earns a massive $900m per year in dividends.
I have
often questioned my role as a retailer, particularly in recent years, but now
there are no excuses. The world is my oyster, and I can attain great wealth. Mr. Ortega shows it can be done.