Kulczyk holds top spot in richest Poles list

Jan Kulczyk: photo - Wikipedia

The list indicates that the oft-cited credit crunch has not shaken Poland's richest businessmen, with Kulczyk himself becoming the first Pole to cross the 11 billion zloty mark, increasing his assets by 24.7 percent, according to Forbes' estimates.

Indeed, some eight of the top ten on the list increased their wealth in 2012.

Kulczyk, who began his career in 1988 as Poland's sole dealer of Volkswagen and Audi cars, currently has assets of 11.1 billion zloty (2.6 billion euro), in Forbes' reckoning.

Besides his global investments in oil and gas, Kulczyk has recently expanded his interests to include green energy. Last autumn, his Polenergia company bought a 58 percent stake in Polish Energy Partners (PEP), which operates wind farms.

As was the case last year, second to Kulczyk on the list is media baron Zygmunt Solorz-Zak, owner of Polsat, Poland's second biggest television channel. His wealth is estimated at 10.4 billion zloty (2.5 billion euro), rising by 22.4 percent since last year.

Third place was taken again by Michal Solowow, who made his fortune in bathroom appliances and property, with an estimated wealth of 6 billion zloty (1.4 billion euro), a 9.1 percent increase on last year.

Discounting German Efromovich (who did not appear on previous lists as he did not have Polish citizenship), the highest newcomer on the list this year is Krakow businessmen Jan Smela, owner of IT company Ericpol. Smela is estimated to have amassed a fortune to the level of 300 million zloty (72.1 million euro). (nh)