photo by Thomas Baert

Thomas Baert: Flooring revolutionary with a 73 million euro fortune

Belgian-born Thomas Baert made his mark on the Asian flooring industry by founding Chinafloors and Rugmax in Beijing. With around 1,300 employees, his company Creative Flooring Solutions (CFL) enjoys a global presence, with production sites in Vietnam, the USA, China and Taiwan. Thanks to its commitment to innovation and sustainable development, Baert has built up a fortune of over 73 million euros. Discover how its innovative brands, such as Firmfit, Novocore and Tenacity, have revolutionized the flooring market.

2 girls playing the verstaeten family machines created by the Elaut company

The Secrets of Achiel Verstraeten: Revolutionizing the Amusement Gaming Industry with a Fortune of 47 Million Euros

Since 1959, the Verstraeten family, headed by Achiel Verstraeten, has transformed the amusement sector with innovations such as the three-motor crane mechanism and token bumper cars. The Elaut company they founded has expanded from Europe to the USA, making its mark on the market with high-quality products. Discover the seven secrets that have enabled this family to build an empire valued at over 47 million euros.

dog food from Famille Versele

289 Million : The Versele-Laga Empire - From Grocer to Animal Nutrition Giant

Discover the spectacular rise of Versele-Laga, from a modest grocery store to an animal nutrition empire valued at over 289 million euros. This Belgian family saga, marked by innovation and international expansion, has revolutionized the animal feed industry over three generations, while maintaining remarkable discretion.

Raf Vanthoor

70 Million: Raf Vanthoor's meteoric rise - From Cuisine to Circuits

Discover the exceptional career of the Raf Vanthoor family, masters in the art of turning opportunity into gold. From innovation in cookware with Berghoff Worldwide to a passion for high-performance automobiles, this Belgian dynasty has built an empire valued at over 70 million euros. Immerse yourself in the story of a family that excels as much in entrepreneurship as it does on the international racing circuit.

Kitchen utensils by Raf Vanthoor

67 Million: The Vanthoor Empire - From Kitchen to Racetrack

Discover the meteoric rise of the Vanthoor family, from kitchen utensils to motor racing. With an estimated fortune of over 67 million euros, this Belgian dynasty combines entrepreneurial innovation with a passion for speed, making its mark on the world of business and international motorsport.

Laurent Levaux's management style

Laurent Levaux: The Strategic Rectifier who orchestrated a 600 million euro sale

Laurent Levaux, a graduate of UCLouvain and the University of Chicago, has established himself as one of Belgium's leading business turnarounds. From McKinsey consultant to CEO of Aviapartner, via the spectacular rescue of ABX, sold for 600 million euros, Levaux has demonstrated an exceptional ability to transform ailing companies. His impressive career includes key positions at Proximus, Bpost, and the presidency of Nethys, illustrating his versatility in a variety of sectors. An astute strategist and recognized crisis manager, Levaux has built a career marked by daring restructurings and resounding financial successes, making him a key figure on the Belgian business scene.

solvay researcher working for Patrick Solvay

151 Million : Patrick Solvay's Colossal Legacy - From Chemicals to Golf

Immerse yourself in the world of Patrick Solvay, heir to a chemical and financial empire valued at 151 million euros. From major influence in the global chemical industry to ownership of a prestigious golf course, discover how this great-grandson of Alfred Solvay perpetuates and diversifies the legacy of one of Belgium's most influential families.

Wibo family steelworks

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.

frames built by Johan Verstrepen

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.