From Mészáros to PM Orbán’s son-in-law: A new list shows this year’s 50 richest Hungarians!
This year, Forbes has once again compiled its list of the 50 richest Hungarians. While many of the names featured are already familiar, with their financial standings being no secret, a few newcomers have made their mark, securing higher positions than expected.
The Forbes list of the 50 richest Hungarians is once again headed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s childhood friend Lőrinc Mészáros, who boasts a fortune of more than HUF 1 trillion (EUR 2.44 billion) this year. His wealth has increased by more than 107%, driven by stock market transactions and public investments.
In 2023, Mészáros’ companies generated HUF 155 billion (EUR 378 million) in dividends, of which he directly raised HUF 73 billion (EUR 178 million). The Felcsút billionaire’s network of companies has expanded not only in Hungary but also in several countries in the region.
The top 10 richest Hungarians
The aggregate distribution of wealth in Hungary in 2024 will continue to show a significant concentration among the richest individuals on the Forbes list. The leader is still Lőrinc Mészáros, who is a major player in the Hungarian economy.
His soaring fortunes can be attributed to the success of Opus Global, as well as a number of investments in construction, agriculture and tourism. Others on the list have also achieved outstanding results in various industries, from finance to real estate development and online services.
Here is the list of the top 10 richest Hungarians:
- 1. Lőrinc Mészáros with HUF 1,241.8 billion (EUR 3.03 billion)
- 2. Sándor Csányi with HUF 684.8 billion (EUR 1.67 billion)
- 3. Zsolt Felcsuti with HUF 487.4 billion (EUR 1.19 billion)
- 4. Tibor Veres with HUF 473.3 billion (EUR 1.15 billion)
- 5. György Gattyán with HUF 364.2 billion (EUR 888 million)
- 6. László Szíjj with HUF 333.3 billion (EUR 813 million)
- 7. Dániel Jellinek with HUF 297.3 billion (EUR 725 million)
- 8. Gábor Széles with HUF 228.6 billion (EUR 557 million)
- 9. István Garancsi with HUF 226.2 billion (EUR 552 million)
- 10. Sándorné Demján and her family with HUF 225.2 billion (EUR 549 million)
The stakeholders include construction companies, banking and financial services, technology and media companies, all of which have a significant impact on the domestic economy.
This year, Erik Keszthelyi, whose wealth reaches HUF 100 billion (EUR 244 million), made his debut on the list. Keszthelyi has achieved success in the insurance sector and has a significant stake in Hungarikum Insurance Group. The owners of Hell Energy have also returned to the list, and after four years of legal battles, they are once again among the richest.
Other than Lőrinc Mészáros, István Tiborcz, the Prime Minister’s son-in-law, has also doubled his wealth in a year to HUF 151.5 billion (EUR 369 million), putting him in 15th place in the top 50. His main interests include the Gránit Bank and the BDPST luxury real estate business, which he manages jointly with his wife, Ráchel Orbán.
What could be the key to success?
While the growing wealth of the richest is impressive, in many cases the economic backdrop also includes state subsidies, privatisation and large dividend payments. This raises questions about the extent to which the Hungarian economy benefits from these wealth accumulations and the contribution of companies to sustainable development.
The list of the 50 richest Hungarians is not only a reflection of business success but also of the country’s economic structure. The growing disparities indicate that a significant share of economic opportunity is concentrated at the top, which could raise serious social and economic issues in the long term.
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