Billionaire founder of Mango dies after falling 500ft while hiking in Spain
The billionaire founder of fashion brand Mango has died after he fell a shocking 500ft whilst on a hiking trip in Spain.
Isak Andic, 71, was walking with family members, including his son and partner, in the Montserrat mountain range outside Barcelona on Saturday when the tragic accident occurred.
The incident took place on a path leading to the Salnitre caves – an area which is known to be challenging for hikers, famous for inspiring Antoni Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia in the city.
Emergency services dispatched both a helicopter and ambulance to the scene following the incident.
Despite the rapid response, Andic was found dead several hours after the fall.
He had been accompanied by his partner Estefanía Knuth, 51, a former professional golfer, and his son Jonathan, 43, who serves as an executive at Mango.
The Spanish businessman is survived by his three children, including Jonathan and his two daughters, Judith and Sarah.
Andic was the wealthiest individual in Catalonia and ranked as the fifth richest person in Spain at the time of his death.
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His personal fortune was estimated at £3.75billion, having grown substantially by £1.5billion in the previous year alone.
The path where the accident occurred led to the historic Montserrat monastery, with local guides highlighting that the nature the challenging nature of the terrain for walkers.
Mango’s chief executive Toni Ruiz said: “It is with deep regret that we announce the unexpected death of Isak Andic, our non-executive chairman and founder of Mango, in an accident that occurred this Saturday.”
Ruiz emphasised Andic’s lasting impact: “His departure leaves a huge void but all of us are, in some way, his legacy and the testimony of his achievements. It is up to us … to ensure that Mango continues to be the project that Isak was ambitious and proud of.”
Salvador Illa Roca, the president of Catalonia’s government, said he was “dismayed by the loss” of Andic, describing him as a “committed businessman” who “contributed to making Catalonia great and projecting it to the world”.
Andic’s remarkable business journey began when he moved from Turkey to Catalonia with his family in the 1960s, going on to establish Mango in 1984, transforming it into an international high street brand.
The company has achieved significant success under his leadership, recording a turnover of £2.6billion in 2023.
Mango’s current business model has conducted 33 per cent of its operations online, in its drive to demonstrate strong digital integration.
The fashion retailer now maintains a substantial international presence, operating across more than 120 markets worldwide.