The business magnates’ long goodbye: How the world’s richest people are planning their succession

Warren Buffett, Rupert Murdoch, Carlos Slim, Amancio Ortega, Juan Roig, Giorgio Armani and Bernard Arnault are facing one of the most critical moments for any family business: generational change. And in some cases, it is far from clear who will be their successor.

The succession of Juan Roig, the president and largest shareholder of the supermarket chain Mercadona, is a recurring topic whenever he faces journalists. “I will continue as long as I am in perfect physical and mental condition,” he said at the presentation of the 2023 results in March. Roig, who turned 75 on October 8, was accompanied by his wife, Hortensia Herrero, who holds 27.71% of the company, and their daughter Carolina, who made her first appearance as secretary of the board and a market analyst.

Roig has three other daughters: Juana, Amparo, and Hortensia. Juana, along with Carolina, works at Mercadona, where she heads the digital department.