Working Lives Mexico: Multi-millionaire
- Published
Jorge Vergara is a man who thinks big.
Starting from quite humble roots in real estate and later meat-packing, he is now one of the richest men in Mexico. Indeed, one of the richest in all of Latin America.
It was when he broke into the food supplements world that his business empire really took off - first in the United States, then back in his native Mexico with the launch of his own vitamins company, Grupo Omnilife.
From just a handful of employees and a couple of products, Omnilife now has millions of sales distributors around the world.
"It's all about empowerment," he says of his company's philosophy, an approach he has now turned to football. With his wealth he bought Mexico's most successful football team, Club Deportivo Guadalajara (or Chivas).
The team only fields Mexican players and Vergara has introduced an emphasis on youth. He has also opened franchises in the US (Chivas USA) and China.
Still, he remains pragmatic about his wealth. "I think money is to spend, and to grow, and to share," he says from Chivas' new 50,000-seat stadium. "What use is this money in the bank if it isn't benefitting anyone?"