Former tennis player and businessman Ion Tiriac is still the richest Romanian, with a net worth of EUR 1.6-1.65 billion, according to the 2016 edition of Top 300 Capital. Last year, Tiriac had a wealth of EUR 1.5 billion, according to the local ranking.

Tiriac, who sold his stakes in local UniCredit Bank and Metro Cash&Carry in 2015, still owns a stake in the biggest local insurer Allianz-Tiriac. His Tiriac Holding has operations in the real estate, automotive, and energy sectors. The 77-year old businessman also owns a big car collection, which is on display near Bucharest's Otopeni airport, and the Madrid tennis open, one of the world's top tournaments.

Local entrepreneurs Adrian and Dragos Paval, who own the DIY retailer Dedeman, come next with an estimated wealth of EUR 920-950 million. Their fortune increased by 6.8% compared to last year, when it was estimated at EUR 850-900 million, reports local Capital.ro.

The top three is completed by agriculture tycoon Ioan Niculae, whose empire got smaller while he was in jail. However, Capital estimates his fortune at EUR 600-700 million (down from EUR 750-800 million in 2015). Niculae was released from prison in July this year, after serving little over ten months for illegally financing a local politician's presidential campaign.

Telecom group RCS&RDS owner Zoltan Teszari is fourth in the ranking, with an estimated wealth of EUR 500-520 million (EUR 480-500 million in 2015), followed by Iulian Dascalu, who owns several shopping malls and mixed real estate projects in the country. Dascalu has a fortune of EUR 450-460 million (EUR 430-450 million in 2015).

Romanian entrepreneurs Gruia Stoica and Vasile Didila, the owners of GFR group - the biggest private rail freight transporter in Romania, come next with a wealth of EUR 380-400 million, followed by industrialists Marius and Emil Cristescu – EUR 350-360 million, businessman Gabriel Popoviciu – EUR 340-360 million, football boss George Becali – EUR 280-300 million, and businessman Radu Dimofte – EUR 280-300 million. Popoviciu owns, among others, the Baneasa Shopping City mall in Bucharest while Becali owns the Steaua Bucharest football club.

The total fortune of the 300 richest Romanians increased by 4.2% year-on-year in 2016, to some EUR 21.69 billion. More than a third of the millionaires included in the ranking are from the Bucharest-Ilfov region, their total wealth amounting to EUR 10.15 billion, which represents 46.8% of the total fortune of the 300 richest Romanians.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Tiriac Collection on Facebook)