The 71-year-old founder of fashion chain Mango and one of the richest men in Spain, Isak Andic, has died in a hiking accident
Isak Andic, the visionary founder and owner of Spanish fashion retailer Mango, has passed away at the age of 71. Andic tragically died after a fall while hiking with family members near Barcelona on Saturday. According to police reports, he slipped and fell over 150 meters (nearly 500 feet) from a cliff in the Montserrat caves.
Emergency services were called by his family at around 12:30 PM local time, reported Spanish newspaper El Pais. A helicopter and an ambulance were dispatched to the scene, but unfortunately, Andic was confirmed dead upon their arrival.
In a heartfelt statement, Mango CEO Toni Ruiz expressed deep sorrow: “It is with deep regret that we announce the unexpected death of Isak Andic, our non-executive chairman and founder of Mango.”
Andic, born in Türkiye, moved to Catalonia in the 1960s and established Mango in 1984. Under his leadership, the company expanded to nearly 2,800 stores worldwide, achieving a turnover of €3.1 billion ($3.26 billion) in 2023. Forbes estimated his net worth at $4.5 billion, making him one of the wealthiest individuals in Spain and the richest in the Catalonia region.
Catalan regional government head Salvador Illa praised Andic as a monumental figure in the fashion industry, stating, “He leaves an indelible mark on the Catalan and global fashion sector.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also extended his condolences to Andic’s family in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “All my love and recognition for his great work and business vision, which has turned this Spanish firm into a world leader in fashion,” Sanchez wrote.
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