According to the 24th annual ranking of the 100 richest Hungarians, the combined wealth of the country’s top one hundred business elite exceeded HUF 11 trillion (approximately €28bn) for the first time, increasing by a record HUF 2 trillion (€5bn) over the year. The data underlines the growing inequality in the Hungarian economy, where the wealth of businessmen closely linked to power continues to grow against a backdrop of general economic stagnation.
In 2024, Hungary’s economy showed a minimal growth of 0.1%. However, for a number of businessmen close to the authorities, this year was a time of unprecedented enrichment. This scale of capital growth is striking given the general stagnation.
Lőrinc Mészáros, a former locksmith and childhood friend of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, once again took first place in the ranking. His fortune increased from 990 billion to 1.42 trillion forints, equivalent to 1.6% of the country’s GDP. His capital has grown almost 200 times in the last ten years: in 2015 it was estimated at only 8 billion forints. Ever since the former main backer of the Fidesz party, Lajos Simicska, fell into disgrace, Mészáros has been the main beneficiary of Orbán’s economic model.
One of the fastest-growing contributors to the list was Gellért Jászai, CEO of technology and defence group 4iG. His capital almost doubled in a year to 264 billion forints (€670 million), making him one of the ten richest for the first time. This is due to 4iG’s expanding presence in strategically important sectors related to government contracts – defence, telecommunications and space technology. The company has signed a number of agreements with overseas space organisations, and Yasai himself held talks with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk in December 2024.
István Tiborcz, Orbán’s son-in-law, also made a notable jump in the ranking, with his fortune rising by 80% to HUF 188bn, securing him 11th place. His assets cover real estate, energy and finance – all sectors that receive stable state support.
While the first seven positions on the list remained unchanged, the changes at the bottom of the ranking demonstrate the increasing concentration of wealth in the hands of politically affiliated entrepreneurs. The threshold to get on the list has also increased: now, to enter the top 100, one must have a fortune of at least 20 billion forints (€50 million).
The ranking is based on publicly available company data. Assets hidden abroad or through private investment structures are not taken into account.
