Top 6 Richest Men In Romania According To Forbes (2025)

Romania might be better known for its medieval castles, scenic Carpathian Mountains, and the legend of Dracula, but in recent years, it’s also been making headlines for something entirely different—its growing billionaire class. According to Forbes, Romania is home to a handful of individuals whose vision, hard work, and business acumen have propelled them into the global wealth rankings.

From cutting-edge tech entrepreneurs to retail magnates and former sports legends turned financiers, these six billionaires have not only accumulated enormous fortunes but have also transformed their respective industries. Let’s take a deep dive into who they are, how they made their money, and what makes them stand out on both the local and global stage.

1. Ion Stoica – $2.5 Billion

Age: 60
Industry: Data Analytics (Technology)

Ion Stoica is Romania’s richest man in 2025, sharing the top spot with his former student and now business partner, Matei Zaharia. Together, they co-founded Databricks, a US-based data analytics and AI company that has become one of the hottest names in Silicon Valley.

Stoica’s journey began in academia—he is a respected computer scientist and professor at the University of California, Berkeley. His research in distributed systems and networking laid the foundation for technologies that power massive-scale data processing today.

Databricks, founded in 2013, offers cloud-based tools for data engineering, machine learning, and analytics. Its platform is used by thousands of companies worldwide, including Fortune 500 giants. The company’s valuation has soared into tens of billions of dollars, and Stoica’s stake has made him one of the few Romanian-born billionaires in tech.

What makes his story remarkable is that Stoica’s success isn’t just about money—it’s about innovation. He represents a new generation of billionaires whose fortunes are built on intellectual property, not inherited wealth.

2. Matei Zaharia – $2.5 Billion

Age: 39
Industry: Data Analytics (Technology)

Matei Zaharia might be younger than his co-founder Ion Stoica, but he’s equally influential in the tech world. Zaharia is credited as the original creator of Apache Spark, a revolutionary open-source data processing engine developed while he was a PhD student at UC Berkeley.

Like Stoica, Zaharia has a strong academic background and currently serves as an associate professor at Stanford University. His technical leadership at Databricks has been central to the company’s success, particularly in scaling its AI and machine learning capabilities.

Zaharia’s story is an inspiring one for young entrepreneurs—he went from being a graduate student with a brilliant idea to becoming a billionaire before the age of 40. His ability to bridge deep technical knowledge with business strategy has helped Databricks dominate in a fiercely competitive industry.

3. Ion Țiriac – $2.1 Billion

Age: 85
Industry: Banking & Insurance (Finance & Investments)

Ion Țiriac is arguably Romania’s most famous billionaire—not just for his wealth, but for his fascinating life story. Before becoming a business mogul, Țiriac was a professional athlete, competing in ice hockey at the 1964 Winter Olympics and later enjoying a successful career as a tennis player and coach.

After retiring from sports, Țiriac transitioned into business, building an empire that spans banking, insurance, real estate, and auto dealerships. His holding company, Țiriac Group, is one of Romania’s most diversified private enterprises.

Țiriac is known for his sharp business instincts and his ability to adapt to different economic climates. Even in his 80s, he remains actively involved in managing his assets, and his influence in Romania’s business and sports communities is unmatched.

4. Dragoș Pavăl – $2 Billion

Age: 58
Industry: Retail (Fashion & Retail)

Dragoș Pavăl is the co-founder and president of Dedeman, Romania’s largest DIY home improvement retail chain. Founded with his brother Adrian in 1992, Dedeman grew from a small family-owned business into a nationwide brand with dozens of massive stores.

What sets Pavăl apart is his relentless focus on expansion and customer service. Dedeman has outperformed international competitors in Romania by offering competitive prices, a wide product range, and strategically located stores.

In addition to retail, Pavăl has diversified his investments into real estate, finance, and green energy. His success story is a testament to the potential of building strong, homegrown brands that can compete with global giants.

5. Daniel Dines – $1.4 Billion

Age: 53
Industry: Software (Technology)

Daniel Dines is often referred to as the “first bot billionaire.” He co-founded UiPath, a global leader in robotic process automation (RPA), which enables companies to automate repetitive digital tasks.

UiPath’s rise has been meteoric—the company started in Bucharest but eventually moved its headquarters to New York to tap into global capital markets. In 2021, UiPath had one of the largest software IPOs in US history, instantly making Dines a billionaire.

Despite facing challenges in maintaining its high valuation, UiPath remains a leader in the automation space, and Dines’ vision for AI-powered efficiency continues to attract major corporate clients worldwide. His story is a reminder that even in a competitive tech landscape, innovation and persistence can create massive opportunities.

6. Adrian Pavăl – $1.3 Billion

Age: 56
Industry: Retail (Fashion & Retail)

Adrian Pavăl, like his brother Dragoș, owes his fortune to Dedeman. As co-founder and vice president of the company, Adrian has played a crucial role in operational management, logistics, and store expansion.

While Dragoș often serves as the public face of the company, Adrian is known for his behind-the-scenes leadership, ensuring that Dedeman’s supply chains, product quality, and customer experience remain top-notch.

Beyond retail, Adrian and his brother have made strategic investments through Pavăl Holding, which owns stakes in multiple Romanian companies, as well as significant real estate assets.

Romania’s Billionaire Class – What It Tells Us

Looking at these six billionaires, a few key themes emerge:

1. Technology is a rising powerhouse – Ion Stoica, Matei Zaharia, and Daniel Dines have shown that Romania can produce world-class tech entrepreneurs. These men have leveraged Romanian talent and international markets to create global companies.

2. Family businesses can go big – The Pavăl brothers are proof that a small, locally-owned company can grow into a national leader and generate billionaire wealth without relying on foreign ownership.

3. Diversification is key – Ion Țiriac’s shift from sports to finance, and the Pavăl brothers’ investments beyond retail, highlight the importance of spreading risk across industries.

4. Global reach matters – Whether it’s Stoica and Zaharia running a Silicon Valley tech giant, Dines leading a New York-listed automation firm, or Țiriac expanding into multiple sectors, Romania’s billionaires have succeeded by thinking beyond local borders.

Final Thoughts

Romania’s richest men in 2025 are a fascinating mix of academics, athletes, tech innovators, and retail kings. They represent different generations and industries, yet all share an ability to identify opportunities and turn them into billion-dollar empires.

Their stories also show how Romania’s economy is evolving—from one historically reliant on manufacturing and agriculture to one driven by technology, finance, and consumer markets.

For aspiring entrepreneurs in Romania and beyond, these six billionaires offer lessons in persistence, innovation, and strategic risk-taking. And as Romania continues to integrate deeper into the global economy, we can expect more names to join this exclusive list in the coming years.