You Won’t Believe How Much Money This Former Tennis Player Has!
You’ve probably never heard of Ion Tiriac, but he’s a billionaire, and his wealth is mind-boggling. In fact, he’s three times richer than Cristiano Ronaldo, the world’s most celebrated soccer superstar. So, who is this mysterious individual, and how did he build his fortune?
Ion Tiriac, a former Romanian tennis player, won the 1970 French Open doubles final alongside Ilie Nastase and represented his country in ice hockey at the 1964 Winter Olympics. After retiring from professional tennis, he transitioned into coaching and even worked with top players like Marat Safin and Boris Becker. But his true entrepreneurial spirit was waiting to be unleashed.
Tiriac’s early ventures began with the opening of Romania’s first private bank, Ion Tiriac Bank, shortly after the fall of communism. He then founded the Tiriac Group, which has since expanded into real estate, auto, and financial services. His diversified portfolio is the key to his astronomical net worth of over $1.2 billion.
Forbes estimates his net worth to be around $1.2 billion, making him the richest athlete of all time. To put this in perspective, Ronaldo’s net worth is estimated to be around $640 million. That’s not all; Trent Tiriac’s wealth is almost triple that of Lionel Messi, who has earned over $1 billion throughout his career.
But what’s even more impressive is Tiriac’s ability to create value. He sold the Madrid Open, a prestigious tennis tournament, to IMG for $334 million in 2021. That’s some serious cash.
So, what’s next for the reclusive billionaire? He’s still actively involved in tennis, with the Tiriac Open, a major ATP tournament, bearing his name. The event returned in 2024 after an eight-year hiatus. If you’re looking for a lesson in entrepreneurial spirit and calculated risk-taking, Ion Tiriac is your guy.
Follow us on all social media platforms for more updates!