Greece and the Greek people represent one of the oldest civilizations globally, dating back over 2 million years to the Stone Age. Greece stood at the epicenter of civilization, and much of the contemporary world’s development can be traced back to it.

Greece serves as a major tourist destination, attracting visitors from around the world and acting as a significant source of economic growth for the country. Particularly noteworthy is the shipping industry, a cornerstone of Greece’s strength. Magnates in this industry own fleets of ships, contributing substantially to the state’s economic acceleration, with many of the richest people in Greece involved in this sector.

The richest people in Greece are often associated with what the world terms “old money.” Most of them have acquired wealth through inheritance from parents or partners. While some may have worked their way to becoming among the wealthiest Greek billionaires, the majority on this list hail from a wealthy background.

10. Stelios Haji-Ioannou

Net Worth: $1.1 billion

Entrepreneur Stelios Haji-Ioannou is a Greek Cypriot who was raised in a prosperous ship-owning family. He is best known for starting the low-cost airline EasyJet and the Stelmar shipping line with the help of his father, Loucas.

Haji-Ioannou, a self-described “serial entrepreneur,” began working for his father’s already prosperous shipping company, Troodos Shipping Co Ltd., in 1988. When Haji-Ioannou was 25, his father gave him £30 million, which he used to start his own shipping business, Stelmar Shipping which he later sold for roughly $1.3 billion in 2005.

He then went ahead to establish EasyJet, where he continues to be the airline’s largest single shareholder with 15% company shares and a capitalization of £3.86 billion as of January 2024. This has managed to help him maintain a net worth of $1.1 billion.

9. Marianna Latsis & Family

Net Worth: $1.7 billion

Marianna Latsis happens to be one of the offspring of the late Greek shipping billionaire, John Latsis. Following his passing, his fortune was split, but Marianna opted to carry on with his father’s legacy by leading the shipping firm Latsco. Forbes estimates her net worth to be $1.7 billion, making her the 3rd richest woman in Greece.

8. George Yancopoulos

Net Worth: $1.9 billion

George Yancopoulos is a Greek-American biomedical scientist who co-founded Regeneron Pharmaceuticals where he also serves as president and chief scientific officer.

Yancopoulos is the owner of more than 100 inventions and innovations. He is a key developer and inventor of Regeneron’s foundational technologies for target and drug development

According to Forbes magazine, Yancopoulos became a billionaire because of his financial investment in Regeneron. He is the first director of research and development in the pharmaceutical sector to reach billionaire status.

As of 2024, George Yancopoulos has a net worth of $1.9 billion, which ranks him 8th among the richest Greeks in the world.

7. Spiro Latsis & Family

Net Worth: $1.9 billion

Spiros Latsis is the billionaire son of the late businessman Yiannis Latsis who happened to be an extremely wealthy Greek shipping tycoon. He and his siblings inherited the family fortune and have done a good job maintaining it, enough to rank 7th among the richest people in Greece.

6. Vardis Vardinoyannis & Family

Net Worth: $2 billion

The Vardinoyannis operates as a close-knit family, controlling numerous successful businesses across various sectors both domestically and internationally. However, their major investment appears to be in areas of oil and gas, shipping, and finance. The Family’s wealth has experienced steady growth since 2020, peaking at $2 billion in January 2024.

5. Philip Niarchos

Net Worth: $2.8 billion

Philip Niarchos is the eldest son of Greek shipping magnate Stavros Niarchos and Eugenia Livanos. After his father’s passing, Philip inherited a portion of his father’s priciest art collection. He did well to build upon his father’s legacy, collecting rare art pieces.

As of 2024, Philip Niarchos has an estimated net worth of $2.8 billion, ranking him 5th among the richest people in Greece.

4. Charles Dean Metropoulos

Net Worth: $2.9 billion

Charles Dean Metropoulos is a Greek-American businessman and investor known for his successful ventures in the food and beverage industry. With a notable career, he served as the financial director for GTE International in Switzerland and later became the company’s youngest controller upon returning to the U.S. In 1981, he made his first acquisition, Stella Foods Inc., and subsequently engaged in numerous buy-build private equity transactions, including notable brands like Pabst Brewing Company, Bumble Bee Foods, and Vlasic Pickles.

Metropoulos is the executive chairman and CEO of C. Dean Metropoulos & Company, which has been involved in over 72 acquisitions with $12 billion in invested capital. His significant role in acquiring Nestlé’s North American bottled-water brands for $4.3 billion further adds to his wealth portfolio.

As of 2024, Charles Dean Metropoulos has a net worth of $2.6 billion, securing him the 4th spot among the richest Greek billionaires.

3. Aristotelis Mistakidis

Net Worth: $3.3 billion

Aristotelis Mistakidis is a Swiss-based Greek metals trader renowned as the third richest Greek, amassing a substantial fortune through his tenure at Glencore. Beginning his career at Cargill and later joining Marc Rich & Co. in 1993, he played a pivotal role in the company’s transformation into Glencore, specializing in zinc, copper, and lead.

As of 2024, Mistakidis holds a notable 3% stake in Glencore, contributing significantly to his estimated net worth of $3.3 billion. Despite facing compliance issues and resigning as the director of Glencore’s copper business in 2018, Mistakidis continued to make strategic investments, displaying confidence in the Greek economy by acquiring a 5.14% stake in Piraeus Bank in 2021 alongside US billionaire John Paulson.

2. Maria Angelicoussis

Net Worth: $5.6 billion

Maria Angelicoussis is the CEO of Angelicoussis Group, a shipping company founded by her grandfather. She took over the family business following the passing of her father and has managed to earn the title of the biggest Greek ship owner, with about 142 ships. According to Forbes and Bloomberg, Maria Angelicoussis has a net worth of $5.6 billion.

1. Vicky Safra

Net Worth: $18.8 billion

Vicky Safra and her late Billionaire husband Joseph Safra

Vicky Safra is the richest Greek billionaire with an estimated net worth of $18.8 billion. Following the passing of her billionaire husband Joseph Safra in 2020, Vicky and her four children shared his wealth, which was valued at more than $20 billion at the time. This heritage saw her listed as one of Forbes’ richest people in Greece.

Who are the Richest People In Greece in 2024?

Below are the top 10 richest Greeks and their respective net worth as of 2024:

1. Vicky Safra – $18.8 billion
2. Maria Angelicoussis – $5.6 billion
3. Aristotelis Mistakidis – $3.3 billion
4. Charles Dean Metropoulos – $2.9 billion
5. Philip Niarchos – $2.8 billion
6. Vardis Vardinoyannis & Family – $2 billion
7. Spiro Latsis & Family – $1.9 billion
8. George Yancopoulos – $1.9 billion
9. Marianna Latsis & family – $1.7 billion
10. Stelios Haji-Ioannou – $1.1 billion

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