Slovenian billionaire cash piles grow
The fortunes of Slovenia's wealthiest have surged again, with the country's top 100 now worth a combined €11.2 billion - the highest figure yet and 12% more than last year, according to rankings by Finance Manager.
At the top are investors Vesna and Dari Južna, whose fast-growing holdings edged out former leaders Iza Sia and Samo Login, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.
The assets of the reclusive Južna couple, who hold stakes in a large number of companies, is estimated at €511 million, a 48% increase over the year before. An important part of their portfolio is a 10% share in energy company Petrol, the value of which increased by 60% in the last year.
Their Perspektiva asset management group had almost completely paid off its debt by last year, while at the same time accumulating more than €70 million in cash. Finance Manager estimates that the cash pile could reach €100 million by the end of the year.
The couple, who rarely appear in public of give interviews, told Finance Manager that their success is based on the constant reinvestment of profits, and that their companies would not develop if they stripped them for assets to finance a lavish lifestyle.
The assets of Iza Sia and Samo Login, the former spouses who made millions selling the mobile app Talking Tom, remained level with last year at €414 million each. Because they are separated, they are featured on the list separately, sharing second place.
The Šešok family, the owners of the diversified international industrial conglomerate Iskra, came in fourth, growing their assets by 12% to €381 million.
Two of the co-owners of energy solutions company NGEN made the top 10 with Boštjan Bandelj, the founder of Belektron, taking fifth place €EUR 324 million, up by 35%, and Damian Merlak, who originally made his fortune in crypto, seventh with €313 million, up by 33%.
Tech entrepreneur and Dewesoft co-founder Jure Knez came in sixth with €316 million, down by 12% compared to 2024.
The top ten is rounded off by former owners of aviation company Pipistrel Ivo and Anastasia Taja Boscarol (€263 million, +6%), who are now investing their money in real estate, former co-owner of Outfit7 Marko Pistotnik (€252 million, no change), and entrepreneur Joc Pečečnik (€240 million, no change), who originally made his fortune building gaming machines and is now an influential member of the business establishment.
Four athletes made the list with basketball superstar Luka Dončić making it into the top 25 with €126 million, up by a fifth on 2024. The wealth of retired basketball player Goran Dragić has been assessed at €69.4 million, that of football goalkeeper Jan Oblak at €56.4 million, and ice hockey player Anže Kopitar is estimated to be worth €46.1 million.
Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA
