The 5 Wealthiest People in Mexico

By
Andrew Bloomenthal
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Andrew Bloomenthal has 20+ years of editorial experience as a financial journalist and as a financial services marketing writer.
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Updated April 03, 2022
Fact checked by
Skylar Clarine
Skylar Clarine
Fact checked by Skylar Clarine
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Skylar Clarine is a fact-checker and expert in personal finance with a range of experience including veterinary technology and film studies.

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Mexico has produced its fair share of billionaires. Here are that country's top five wealthiest individuals, along with itemized descriptions of their net worths, their wealth rankings in Mexico, their global wealth rankings, plus descriptions of the sectors in which they earned or inherited their astonishing fortunes.

Key Takeaways

  • Mexico is home to thirteen of the world's 2,755 billionaires, as measured in U.S. dollars.
  • Most of these billionaires inherited large fortunes that they were able to reinvest and grow.
  • The wealthiest person in Mexico is Carlos Slim, who made his $62 billion fortune in telecommunications.
  • Others made their fortunes in mining, finance, and retail.
  • Juan Francisco Beckmann Vidal, the heir to Jose Cuervo, and his family are majority owners of Becle, which is a leader in adult beverages.

1. Carlos Slim Helu

  • Net worth: $62.8 billion
  • Wealth ranking in Mexico: 1
  • Global wealth ranking: 16
  • Sector focus: Telecommunications

Carlos Slim owns América Móvil (AMX), whose telecom operations reach 25 countries. América Móvil once commanded an 80% share of the landline market and a 70% share of the mobile market in Mexico. This changed in the wake of new Mexican laws forbidding companies from monopolizing more than 50% of either subsector. In 2018, regulators fined the company $128 million for violations of antitrust laws. However, Slim's losses were relatively minor compared to the losses other Mexican billionaires suffered over the same time frame.

2. Germán Larrea Mota Velasco

  • Net worth: $25.9 billion
  • Wealth ranking in Mexico: 2
  • Global wealth ranking: 61
  • Sector focus: Mining

Germán Larrea Mota Velasco is the Chairman and CEO of Grupo México S.A.B. de C.V. (GMEXICOB.MX), Mexico's largest mining and infrastructure company, which also owns the largest railroad company in Mexico. Including his own 18.9% stake, the Larrea family controls nearly 60% of Grupo México's shares. After a two-year slump in copper prices, Grupo México's share price more than doubled in 2020, propelling Larrea from the third-wealthiest Mexican billionaire to the second-place spot.

3. Ricardo Salinas Pliego

  • Net worth: $12.9 billion
  • Wealth ranking in Mexico: 3
  • Global wealth ranking: 166
  • Sector focus: Retail, media

All of Mexico's billionaires reside in Mexico's capital, Mexico City.

Ricardo Salinas Pliego owns financing company Grupo Elektra and conglomerate Grupo Salinas, which boasts holdings in television, telecommunications, retail, and banking. Pliego’s fortunes suffered due to depressed consumer spending, but a stronger Mexican peso, nonetheless, increased his net worth by $1.2 billion in 2020.

4. Alberto Baillères Gonzalez

  • Net worth: $9.2 billion
  • Wealth ranking in Mexico: 4
  • Global wealth ranking: 255
  • Sector focus: Mining

Alberto Baillères owns Grupo BAL, an enormous conglomerate that includes Peñoles, a major mining company, and El Palacio de Hierro, an upscale chain of department stores. Baillères also serves on the board of Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (FEMSA) (FMX), a beverage production, distribution, and marketing company. However, falling consumption and higher taxes on soft drinks hampered FEMSA's sales.

5. Juan Francisco Beckmann Vidal

  • Net worth: $7.9 billion
  • Wealth ranking in Mexico: 5
  • Global wealth ranking: 369
  • Sector focus: Alcoholic beverages

Beckmann Vidal is the heir of the famous Jose Cuervo brand of tequila, which has been a family legacy for eleven generations. Becle S.A.B. de C.V., the parent company of Jose Cuervo and other liquor brands, went public in a 2017 IPO that raised $900 million. The Beckmann family still owns more than 85% of Becle, which has a market capitalization of $8.65 billion as of April 1, 2022, and a commanding share in the adult beverages market.

How Many Billionaires Are There in Mexico?

As of the end of 2021, there are 13 billionaires in Mexico.

What Is the Richest Family in Mexico?

The Slim Domit family is the richest family in Mexico, which is largely attributed to Carlos Slim Helu's fortune.

Is Mexico or Spain Richer?

Mexico's GDP as of 2020 was $1.07 trillion; whereas Spain's was $1.28 trillion, making Spain, in that sense, richer than Mexico.

What Is the Richest State in Mexico?

The richest state in Mexico is Baja California, or Baja California Norte, the country's 12th largest state.

Article Sources

Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy.

  1. Forbes. "Forbes World's Billionaires List - The Richest in 2021."

  2. América Móvil. "Our Company."

  3. Reuters. "Insight - Threat of Break-up Looms Over Mexican Telecoms Tycoon Slim."

  4. The Mexican Congress. "Federal Telecommunications and Broadcasting Law," Page 57.

  5. Reuters. "America Movil Fined $128 Million by Mexican Telecoms Operator."

  6. Forbes. "Mexico’s Richest Billionaires 2021."

  7. Forbes. "World's Billionaires List: The Richest in 2021."

  8. CompaniesMarketCap.com. "Largest Mexican Companies by Market Cap."

  9. Grupo México Transportes. "GMXT."

  10. Market Screener. "Grupo México SAB de CV."

  11. Grupo Salinas. "What Is GS?."

  12. Forbes. "Alberto Bailleres Gonzalez & Family."

  13. FEMSA. "Board of Directors."

  14. Forbes. "Juan Francisco Beckmann Vidal & Family."

  15. Yahoo Finance. "Becle SAB de CV."

  16. MarketScreener. "Becle S.A.B. de C.V."

  17. Forbes. "Mexico's Richest Billionaires 2021."

  18. The Mazatlan Post. "The 10 richest families in Mexico."

  19. The World Bank. "GDP (current US$) - Mexico."

  20. Statista. "Share of population living n poverty in Mexico in 2020, by state."

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