The 500 richest people in the Netherlands now own around €300 billion combined. That's more than 10% up from last year (€273 billion). The number of billionaires rose from 52 to 56, and you now need roughly €140 million just to make the list.
The top 10:
1⃣ Jean-Louis van der Velde: €26 billion (Tether, crypto)
2⃣ Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken: €13 billion (Heineken) $HEIA (+3,41%)
3⃣ Ralph Sonnenberg: €6.9 billion (Hunter Douglas/Luxaflex)
4⃣ Gérita and Inge Wessels: €6.9 billion
5⃣ Remon Vos: €6.4 billion (real estate, CTP) $CTPNV (+3,36%)
6⃣ Rob Defares: €5.2 bn, IMC (trading firm).
7⃣ Wijnand Pon: €5.2 bn, Pon (cars, cattle genetics).
8⃣ Johann Kaemingk: €4.5 bn, Optiver.
9⃣ Chris Oomen: €3.4 bn, Optiver.
🔟 Marisa and Claudia Melchers: €3.15 bn, Melchemie.
Notable: after topping the list for years, Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken has to give up first place to a crypto entrepreneur with almost twice her wealth. Number 1 made his money in crypto, number 2 with beer and dividends. Completely different worlds.
The women in the top 10 all inherited their wealth: Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken from her father Freddy Heineken, the Wessels sisters from their father, and the Melchers sisters from their father who passed away in 2023. More broadly, the women on the list have mostly inherited or share their wealth with a partner or family, although there are female founders too. The number of women on the list has also been stagnating for years.
Famous Dutch names on the list:
• #16 Ali Niknam (bunq): €2.5 bn
• #23 John de Mol (media, Talpa): €2.1 bn,
• #36 Joop van den Ende (media and theatre producer): €1.5 bn
• #224 Max Verstappen: €310 million, up 40 places and still the youngest person on the list at 29
• #453 Prince Bernhard: €165 million
