The global fashion giant Inditex has officially increased its dividend payout by 4%, securing a record-breaking €3.23bn for its founder, Amancio Ortega. This financial milestone follows a “robust operating performance” in 2025, during which the retailer reported a 5.8% rise in pre-tax profits to €8bn. The company, which operates high-street staples like Zara and Massimo Dutti, confirmed that the dividend will be distributed to shareholders in two equal payments in May and November.
Amancio Ortega remains the world’s 15th wealthiest person, with a net worth estimated at $126.7bn, and still retains a 59% controlling stake in the Spanish group. While his daughter, Marta Ortega Pérez, now leads as chair, the 89-year-old founder remains a fixture at the corporate headquarters. His transition from a delivery boy to the head of a multi-billion-euro empire is widely regarded as one of the most successful retail stories in history.
The firm’s annual sales reached €39.9bn, a 3.2% increase supported by a strategic shift toward larger, high-capacity stores. Despite a net reduction in the total number of outlets, the relocation to larger units allowed Inditex to actually increase its total global selling space. The company’s portfolio of 5,460 stores now spans over 90 countries, employing a workforce of more than 160,000 people.
Innovation has become a central pillar of the company’s growth strategy, specifically through the integration of artificial intelligence. Inditex recently launched an AI-powered virtual-fitting tool, allowing online customers to preview products on personalized digital avatars. Additionally, the group is expanding its experiential “The Apartment” concept, which showcases premium apparel within a curated, home-like environment to appeal to modern lifestyle consumers.
Looking ahead, the company expects to increase its physical store space by 5% this year, with new locations slated for the US, Norway, and Curaçao. Early data from the new fiscal year shows a 9% surge in sales, despite global supply chain concerns in the Middle East. With the budget brand Lefties set to debut in the UK, Inditex continues to demonstrate significant resilience and a clear path for future expansion.