Ion Tiriac's Biography

Ion Țiriac is a Romanian billionaire, renowned for his remarkable transition from a world-class athlete to one of Eastern Europe's most influential businessmen. Born on May 9, 1939, in Brașov, Romania, Țiriac first gained international fame as a professional tennis player, notably winning the French Open men's doubles title in 1970 alongside Ilie Năstase. He was also a skilled ice hockey player, representing Romania at the 1964 Winter Olympics. After retiring from sports, Țiriac leveraged his fame and acumen to build a vast business empire. He became one of the first post-communist billionaires in Romania, founding Țiriac Holdings, with interests ranging from banking and insurance to car dealerships and real estate. He also owns the prestigious Madrid Open tennis tournament and has received numerous awards, including the Order of the Star of Romania. Despite controversies related to his business dealings during privatization in the 1990s, Țiriac remains a respected figure in both sports and business. Known for his love of luxury cars—he owns one of Europe's largest collections—and his passion for hunting, he continues to be a major philanthropist and advocate for Romanian sports. As of 2024, his net worth is estimated at $1.7 billion.