Construction

  • Willemen family: the 750-million-euro construction empire undergoing a metamorphosis

    The Willemen family, at the head of a construction empire estimated at 750 million euros in annual sales, is navigating through a crucial period of transformation. Founded by Johan Willemen, the Willemen Group has established itself as a construction giant in Belgium, with over 2,100 employees. Despite recent challenges, including a loss of 35 million euros in 2022, the company is demonstrating its resilience by refocusing on the Belgian market. With a family fortune in excess of 53 million euros, the Willemen are a perfect example of how a family business can adapt to the turbulence of the construction sector, while maintaining its leading position in key areas such as infrastructure and real estate.

  • Wibo family: 87-million-euro industrial empire forged in steel

    The Wibo family, at the head of the Vlassenroot Group, has built an industrial empire worth an estimated 87 million euros in large-scale steel processing. Founded in 1926 as a simple forge, the company has evolved under the management of Jean-Charles Wibo into a European leader in steel machine production. With plants in Belgium, Germany and Poland, Vlassenroot excels in the manufacture of heavy hydraulic cranes and steel structures for iconic projects such as Rotterdam's Erasmus Bridge. Beyond Vlassenroot, Jean-Charles Wibo is diversifying into building materials distribution and industrial laundry services, consolidating the Wibo family's industrial heritage.

  • Johan Verstrepen: From Cycling to 1.6 Billion Euro Industrial Empire

    Johan Verstrepen, born in Herentals in 1967, embodies success in both sport and business. Initially a successful professional cyclist, he went on to establish himself as a visionary entrepreneur. Under his leadership, Aliplast, now Corialis, grew from a value of 10 million to 1.6 billion euros. Nicknamed "the king of takeovers", Verstrepen navigated through multiple changes of ownership, retaining a significant stake and guiding the company to spectacular growth. With a personal fortune estimated at over 300 million euros, he is a prime example of the successful transition from top-level athlete to leading industrialist.

  • Serge Goblet: The Visionary Empire of 159 Million Euros, from Commerce to Revolutionary Biotechnology

    Serge Goblet, a Belgian investor with an estimated fortune of 159 million euros, has built a diversified empire combining commerce, real estate and biotechnology. His flagship investment, Celyad Oncology SA, develops innovative CAR-T cancer therapies. Goblet illustrates the successful alliance between entrepreneurial spirit and medical innovation, contributing to therapeutic advances while consolidating a portfolio of international assets in various sectors.

  • Jan Van Geet: VGP founder's meteoric rise to a fortune of 640 million euros

    Jan Van Geet, a Belgian entrepreneur born in 1971, has turned his experience at Ontex into a real estate empire. Founder of VGP in 2000, he built a fortune of 640 million euros by specializing in semi-industrial real estate in Eastern Europe. Despite recent challenges, VGP remains a major player with a portfolio worth 3.23 billion euros. Van Geet, based in the Czech Republic, combines commercial success with philanthropic commitment through the VGP Foundation.