Each March Forbes magazine publishes a list of the world’s billionaires, and by that they mean dollar billionaires.
According to the 2026 Forbes List of Billionaires, the richest man in the world is Elon Musk. As of March 22nd, Elon Musk had a net worth of 814.3 billion dollars.
Donald Trump is on the list. On March 22nd, Trump’s net worth was 6.2 Billion, making him the 643rd wealthiest person on the planet.
How many billionaires are there in Mexico? The Forbes list includes 24 Mexican billionaires.
Of course there may be more. Maybe some billionaires are hiding their wealth.
Back when El Chapo Guzman was still at large, the drug lord was actually on the Forbes billionaires list.
Let’s look at the Forbes 2026 list of 24 Mexican billionaires. There is a lot we can learn from it.
One thing you note just looking at the photos is the whiteness of Mexican billionaires. Of course, that’s not suprising in Mexico, a racially stratified society.
There are no indigenous Mexican billionaires. All the billionaires are of European or Levantine ancestry.
The rich should pay their fair share of taxes. However, “soaking the rich” is not a prudent strategy.
Indeed, the presence of wealthy people in a society is an asset for the society if the wealthy use their wealth to provide jobs and improve society.
OK, time to take a look at the 24 Mexican billionaires. The net worth of each billionaire is based on his (or her) net worth on March 22nd, 2026.
I. CARLOS SLIM and FAMILY Net Worth: 114.5 Billion/#16 in World/#1 in Mexico
Carlos Slim, of Lebanese ancestry (original family surname Salim) is Mexico’s richest man, and has in the past been the world’s richest man. As Forbes reports,“Carlos Slim Helú and his family control América Móvil, Latin America’s biggest mobile telecom firm…He also owns stakes in Mexican construction, consumer goods, mining and real estate companies…Slim and his family own 76% of Grupo Carso, one of Latin America’s largest conglomerates.”
II. GERMAN LARREA MOTA VELASCO and FAMILY
Net worth: 52.6 Billion/#32 in world/#2 in Mexico
From Forbes: “Germán Larrea Mota Velasco owns the majority of Mexico’s largest copper mining company, Grupo México, which also has operations in Perú and the U.S. Under his leadership as president and CEO, Grupo México expanded into the infrastructure and rail transportation sectors…In 2017, Larrea spun off Grupo México’s transport arm into a new company, GMexico Transportes, part owned by two of Carlos Slim Helú’s firms.”
III. ALEJANDRO BAILLERES GUAL and FAMILY
Net Worth: 15.4 Billion/#179 in world, #3 in Mexico
From Forbes: “Alejandro Baillères Gual and his five siblings are the heirs to the mining fortune built by their father Alberto Baillères, who died in 2022. Alejandro is the president of Grupo Bal, the vehicle through which the family owns stakes in an insurance firm, a pension fund company and more. Alejandro is also vice chairman of mining company Industrias Peñoles, known for its silver mines. His younger brother Juan Pablo Baillères is in charge of the cattle and bullfight division of Grupo Bal. Teresa Baillères, the youngest sibling and the only daughter, holds an executive role at luxury department store Grupo Palacio de Hierro. The other siblings are Raúl Baillères, Alberto Baillères, and Xavier Baillères; one sibling, Mauricio Baillères, died in 2014.”
IV. MARIA ASUNCION ARAMBURUZABALA LARREGUI and FAMILY
Net Worth: 9 Billion/#364 in world/#4 in Mexico
Maria Asuncion is the richest woman in Mexico. Forbes reports that “María Asunción Aramburuzabala inherited her father’s stake in beer giant Grupo Modelo when she was just 32 years old. Her grandfather cofounded the company in 1925 in Mexico City. In 2013, Modelo was sold to Anheuser Busch for $20 billion. She has served as CEO of investment firm Tresalia Capital since 1996, investing in companies like Tory Burch and Casper. She holds shares in beauty product manufacturer Coty Inc. and serves on its board.” From 2005 to 2010, she was married to Tony Garza (U.S. Ambassador to Mexico from 2002 to 2009).
V. CARLOS HANK RHON and FAMILY
Net Worth: 4.4 Billion/#935 in world/#5 in Mexico
From Forbes: “Carlos Hank Rohn and his family derive their fortune primarily from Mexican financial group Banorte and Gruma, a tortilla manufacturing company. He is the son of the late politician Carlos Hank Gonzalez, who served as Mexico City mayor, Secretary of Agriculture and governor of the State of Mexico, his home state. In October 2017, Mexico’s Grupo Banorte said it would pay $1.4 billion in stock and cash to acquire Hank Rhon’s Grupo Financiero Interacciones. Hank Rhon’s wife, Graciela, is the daughter of Roberto González, (d. 2012), the founder of Gruma and ex-president of Banorte. Hank Rhon also owns Grupo Hermes, an industrial conglomerate with interests in construction, infrastructure, energy and auto dealerships.”
Carlos Hank Rhon. Source: Agustin Salinas
VI. RICARDO SALINAS PLIEGO and FAMILY
Net Worth: 3.6 Billion/#1155 in world/#6 in Mexico
From Forbes: “Ricardo Salinas Pliego runs the number two Mexican TV broadcaster, TV Azteca, and retailer Grupo Elektra. His Grupo Elektra targets lower middle class consumers who borrow money from his banking arm, Banco Azteca, to buy items at Elektra stores. Elektra, which is publicly traded, was founded in the 1950s by Ricardo’s grandfather, Hugo Salinas Rocha. Salinas appointed a new CEO to TV Azteca in January 2021, replacing his son, Benjamin Salinas Sada, who he’d appointed in 2015.” TV Azteca is in a financial bind and is entering a bankruptcy proceeding. See here.
Also, Salinas may possibly run for President of Mexico in 2030.
Ricardo Salinas. Source: Benedicte Desrus
VII. FERNANDO CHICO PARDO Net Worth: 3.4 Billion/Tied for #7 in Mexico
From Forbes: “Fernando Chico Pardo started his first company in Mexico City at age 27, a stock brokerage called Acciones y Asesoría Bursátil. That brokerage later became part of Grupo Financiero Inbursa, a banking and financial group controlled by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim. After he left Inbursa in 2003, Chico Pardo became a controlling shareholder in Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (Asur), which operates nine airports in Mexico and one in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He also runs private equity fund Promecap, which has acquired interests in or provided funding for a variety of Mexican companies.”
VIII. ANTONIO del VALLE RUIZ and FAMILY
Net Worth: 3.4 Billion/ Tied for #7 in Mexico
From Forbes:“Antonio del Valle Ruiz swapped a stake in a Mexican bank for control of what is now chemical conglomerate Orbia Advance Corp. He and his six children own a 46% stake in Orbia Advance Corp., formerly called Mexichem. Del Valle also owns a majority stake in Grupo Financiero BX+, which controls the bank Banco Ve Por Mas. Through the family’s Grupo Kaluz conglomerate, the Del Valle’s [sic]also own stakes in construction companies Elementia and Fortaleza Materiales as well as Chicago’s Byline Bank. Del Valle has put his children in executive positions at his companies, but is still involved in strategic decisions as ‘Honorary Chairman for Life’.”
IX. RUFINO VIGIL GONZALEZ Net worth: 3 Billion/#9 in Mexico
From Forbes: “Rufino Vigil Gonzalez is a Mexican steel baron and chairman of specialty steel firm Industrias CH. In 2001 the company bought just under 83% of Grupo Simec, a steel smelter with factories in Guadalajara and Mexicali. He owns about 63% of Industrias CH, which has operations in Mexico, Canada and the U.S.”
X. DAVID PEÑALOZA ALANÍS Net worth: 2.6 Billion/#10 in Mexico
From Forbes: “David Peñaloza Alanís is the son of David Peñaloza Sandoval, the founder of construction and infrastructure company Grupo Tribasa. Tribasa, known for building and operating toll roads, ran into financial problems after the peso 1994 crisis and was forced to renegotiate its debt. The company began trading on the Mexican stock exchange again in 2005 and was renamed Promotora y Operadora de Infraestructura, or Pinfra, in 2006. During the restructuring, Peñaloza Alanís replaced his father at the helm and is its largest shareholder. He owns almost 40% of the company, which has 16 toll road concessions throughout Mexico.”
XI. ENRIQUE COPPEL LUKEN Net Worth: 2.3 Billion/#11 in Mexico
From Forbes: “Enrique Coppel Luken and his four brothers own Grupo Coppel, a retail and banking business in Mexico with over $8 billion in sales. Their father and grandfather founded the first shop in Sinaloa, where they sold radios and watches. The group’s retail arm has grown from a single shop in 1941 to over 1,700 stores across Mexico. The stores are known for providing credit to customers, allowing them to finance their purchases over multiple payments. Enrique was chairman and CEO until Agustín, the youngest of the bunch, took over in 2008.”
XII. MANUEL ARANGO ARIAS Net Worth: 2.1 Billion/Tied for #12 in Mexico
From Forbes:“Manuel Arango and his brothers, Jeronimo (d. 2020) and Placido (d. 2020) are credited for building one of Mexico’s first major retailers and helping establish Walmart’s presence in the country. In 1958…the trio founded the bargain retail chain Central de Ropa, later renamed Grupo Cifra. The company owned the Bodega Aurrera stores, selling everything from groceries to home appliances.” In 1991, “they embarked on a 50/50 partnership with Walmart to expand across Mexico. In 1997, Walmart bought a majority stake in Grupo Cifra for $1.8 billion and took over Walmex (Walmart de Mexico).”
Source: Centro Mexicano para la Filantropía
XIII. ROBERTO HERNANDEZ RAMIREZ
Net Worth: 2.1 Billion/Tied for #12 in Mexico
From Forbes: “Roberto Hernández Ramirez made a fortune in banking, beginning with the establishment of brokerage firm Acciones y Valores, also known as Accival. Accival purchased Mexican bank Banamex in 1991, becoming Grupo Financiero Banamex-Accival, which Hernández chaired. In 2001 Citigroup purchased Grupo Financiero Banamex-Accival for $12 billion in cash and stock.”
Roberto Hernandez Ramirez. Source: Carlos Pereda Muciño
XIV. CYNTHIA HELENA GROSSMAN FLEISHMAN
Net Worth: 2 billion/#14 in Mexico
From Forbes: “In 1964 Cynthia Grossman’s father, Burton Grossman, founded Grupo Continental, a soft drink producing and distributing company. Grupo Continental merged with Embotelladoras Arca in 2011 to create Arca Continental, the second-largest Coca-Cola bottler in Latin America. Along with her brother Bruce, Cynthia owns around 10% of the company shares. Arca Continental has over 45 plants and 345 distribution centers across America.”
XV. RUBEN COPPEL LUKEN Net worth: 1.8 Billion/#15 in Mexico
One of the five Coppel brothers who own Coppel department stores, see entry #11 above. Ruben is chairman of BanCoppel (the group’s banking business) and Afore Coppel (the company’s pension fund).
XVI. JOSE COPPEL LUKEN Net Worth: 1.7 Billion/Tied for #16 in Mexico/
Another of the Coppel brothers, who own the Coppel chain.
XVII. ALBERTO COPPEL LUKEN Net Worth: 1.7 Billion/Tied for #16 in Mexico/
Another Coppel brother. From Forbes: “Coppel is the CEO and chairman of GC1 Holding; owner of sake producer Nami and software company ClickBalance. GC1 Holding’s venture capital arm had investments in Spotify, Uber and Pinterest before they went public.”
XVIII. JUAN DOMINGO BECKMANN LEBORRETA and FAMILY
Net Worth: 1.7 Billion/Tied for #16 in Mexico
From Forbes: “Juan Domingo Beckmann Legorreta inherited a nearly 51% stake in tequila firm Becle S.A.B., maker of Jose Cuervo, from his father Juan Francisco Beckmann…Founded in 1758, Becle has remained family-owned for over 250 years. His sister Karen Beckmann Legorreta inherited nearly 36% of the company from their father and is a billionaire as well.”
XIX. LEOPOLDO ESPINOSA ABDALA
Net Worth: 1.6 Billion/Tied for #19 in Mexico
In 2016, Leopoldo and brother Fernando sold their drug manufacturing company Rimsa to Teva Pharmaceuticals (based in Tel Aviv) for 2.3 billion dollars.
Leopoldo Espinosa Abdala. Source: Rimsa
XX. FERNANDO ESPINOSA ABDALA
Net Worth: 1.6 Billion/Tied for #19 in Mexico with brother Fernando
Brother of Leopoldo, see above.
XXI. AGUSTIN COPPEL LUKEN Net Worth: 1.5 Billion/#21 in Mexico
Another Coppel brother, Agustin is chairman and CEO of Grupo Coppel.
XXII. OSCAR BAEZA FARES Net Worth: 1.2 Billion/Tied for #22 in Mexico
From Forbes: “Oscar Eugenio Baeza Fares is the managing director and controlling shareholder of Mexican industrial food conglomerate, Grupo Bafar. Baeza controls about 56% of the company’s shares, while family members hold an additional 29% of the shares.”
XXIII. KAREN VIRGINIA BECKMANN LEGORETTA
Net Worth: 1.2 Billion/Tied for #22 in Mexico
From Forbes: “In 2019, Karen Beckmann Legorreta inherited a nearly 36% stake in Becle S.A.B., maker of Jose Cuervo tequila, from her father, Juan Francisco Beckmann Vidal. She serves on the board of Becle; her brother Juan Domingo Beckmann Legorreta is the CEO. [See #15 above.]The company has been controlled by the family for more than 250 years and has distilleries and bottling facilities across Mexico, the United States and Northern Ireland.”
XXIV. ALFREDO HARP HELU and FAMILY
Net Worth: 1.1 Billion/#3132 in world/#24 in Mexico
Harp is Carlos Slim’s poorer cousin. From Forbes: “Alfredo Harp Helú’s fortune stems from Acciones y Valores de Mexico, also known as Accival, which he cofounded. In 1991 Accival merged with Mexican bank Banamex to form Grupo Financiero Banamex-Accival (Banacci). Harp Helú then became chairman of the group. Citigroup acquired Grupo Financiero Banamex-Accival for $12 billion in stock and cash in 2001, and Harp Helú joined Citigroup’s board. He has a minority stake in publicly-traded tile producer Internacional de Ceramica. He owns two Mexican baseball teams, Los Diablos Rojos of Mexico City and Los Guerreros of Oaxaca.”
CONCLUSION: These are the 24 billionaires listed by Forbes magazine.
I Timothy 6:17-19: 17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19 laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
I Timoteo 6:17-19: 17 A los ricos de este siglo manda que no sean altivos, ni pongan la esperanza en las riquezas, las cuales son inciertas, sino en el Dios vivo, que nos da todas las cosas en abundancia para que las disfrutemos. 18 Que hagan bien, que sean ricos en buenas obras, dadivosos, generosos; 19 atesorando para sí buen fundamento para lo por venir, que echen mano de la vida eterna.