Eight Greek billionaires from the shipping industry, have made their mark on Forbes’ latest list of the world’s wealthiest individuals. The magazine, which has tracked billionaire wealth since 1987—when only 140 people globally held such fortunes—now counts 3,028 billionaires worldwide.
The United States leads the pack with 902 billionaires, followed by China (516) and India (205). However, Greece stands out for its outsized influence in the global maritime sector, where its billionaires have built vast fortunes through commercial shipping, leveraging the country’s long-standing reputation as a shipping powerhouse.
Here are the eight Greek billionaire shipowners featured on the Forbes list:
- Maria Angelicoussis ($7.6 billion), ranked 418th globally, is the CEO and owner of the Athens-based Angelicoussis Group, a privately owned group of affiliated shipping companies dating back to 1947.
- Vangelis Marinakis and family ($4.9 billion), ranked 734th, are involved in shipping, media, and football, with Marinakis also owning the Greek football club Olympiacos.
- Anna Angelicoussis and family ($2.5 billion), ranked 1462nd, of the Angelicoussis shipping dynasty, owns Greek shipping firms Alpha Bulkers, Alpha Gas and Pantheon Tankers Management.
- Constantinos Martinos and family ($2.2 billion), ranked 1626th, own Thenamaris, a leading Greek shipping firm operating a fleet of 95 tankers, bulk carriers, container ships and LNG carriers.
- Marianna Latsis and family ($2.1 billion), ranked 1688th, inherited her fortune from the late Greek shipping tycoon John S. Latsis and now oversees Latsco Shipping, a company operating a fleet of 31 vessels on the water comprised of 20 tankers, 9 LPG carriers and 2 LNG carriers.
- Andreas Martinos and family ($1.8 billion), ranked 1947th, own Minerva Marine, which has a fleet of 71 tankers, dry cargo and container vessels.
- Athanasios Martinos and family ($1.8 billion), also ranked 1947th, lead Eastern Mediterranean Maritime, another major Greek shipping company which has a fleet of 77 tankers, bulk carriers and container vessels.
- Diamantis Diamantides and family ($1 billion), ranked 2933rd, own Delta Tankers and Marmaras Navigation. The two firms own 56 tankers and bulk carriers.
These billionaires exemplify the resilience and innovation that have kept Greek shipowners at the forefront of the global shipping industry, reaffirming Greece’s position as a maritime leader.
Greece’s Maritime Dominance Bolstered by Record Ship Acquisitions
A recent report by shipbroker Allied Shipbroking underscores Greece’s continued dominance in the global shipping market. Over the past 12 months, Greek companies purchased 178 ships, including 108 cargo ships, 43 tankers, seven container ships, and six LPG carriers. This activity places Greece second only to China, which acquired 281 ships during the same period. Turkey followed Greece with 64 purchases, while Norway and Switzerland recorded 48 and 45 acquisitions, respectively. Globally, 1,582 ships changed hands in the past year, including 711 cargo ships, 410 tankers, 210 container ships, and 95 LPG carriers.
Shipbuilding Orders Reflect Global Trends
In terms of new shipbuilding orders, China maintained its leadership with 252 orders, followed closely by Singapore and Greece, each placing 175 orders. Germany and Japan trailed with 97 and 95 orders, respectively. Overall, 2,717 orders were placed globally in the last 12 months, encompassing 583 tankers, 422 cargo ships, 336 container ships, and 193 gas carriers. These figures highlight the robust demand for maritime transport and underscore Greece’s pivotal role in shaping the industry’s future.
