Leading fortunes in Belgium 2018

At the top of the ranking, Alexandre Van Damme rested on a fortune of 17.3 billion euros. The Spoelberch family was the second-highest fortune of Belgium. Indeed, the Spoelberch's family fortune was estimated at 12.5 billion euros. The De Mévius family followed in third place with roughly seven billion euros. These three fortunes are part of the Anheuser-Bush InBev group, a multinational drink and brewing company based in Leuven. This group owns the famous beer brands of Budweiser, Corona, and Stella Artois. Anheuser-Busch InBev notably generated a revenue of over 54.6 billion euros in 2018.

Wealth in Belgium

Belgium is home to important fortunes. Although wealth cannot always be completely ascertained, in 2019, Belgium was the 19th country home of the most millionaires. Additionally, as can be seen, few Belgians officially possess fortunes estimated in billions of euros. Nonetheless, estimating fortunes remains a complicated process. Many fortunes are hidden by secret jurisdictions, opaque structures, or shell companies.

Distribution of wealth in Belgium

Distribution of wealth is a heated debate, raising the question of inequality and its consequences, such as access to health services, social issues, or economic growth. In 2018, it was estimated that 16.4 percent of the Belgian population was at risk of poverty. Furthermore, a survey found that over 80 percent of Belgians thought that the gap between rich and poor was widening in Belgium.