Top 10 Most Successful Hispanic Entrepreneurs in the World
Are you ready to be inspired by stories of Hispanic entrepreneurship? From a supermarket chain founder to one of the biggest TV stars of the 21st century, the world’s most successful Hispanic entrepreneurs are a fascinating bunch!
Entrepreneurs take their unique ideas and establish new ventures that bring about change. They’re creative and innovative risk-takers.
Hispanic entrepreneurs in America have a vision of their own. Hispanic entrepreneurs are proud of their Latino roots and heritage. Most of the entrepreneurs on this list moved to the U.S. to turn their vision into reality. Keep reading to meet 10 of the most successful entrepreneurs!
10 Amazingly Successful Hispanic Entrepreneurs
Each of these talented Hispanic entrepreneurs has made a name for themselves and created empires of their own. Their vision and success are inspiring. See for yourself!
1. Beto Perez
Beto Perez is a Colombian dancer and master of Hispanic entrepreneurship who created the dance and fitness craze, Zumba. Since the 1990s, he has licensed 15 million Zumba instructors worldwide. Beto also created a clothing line, videos, and a fitness empire worth $500 million.
His clever business choices, hard work, and determination were a winning formula. About 200,000 locations in 180 countries offer Zumba. That number continues to grow as the company continues to license trainers. The Zumba empire has even inspired a video game franchise.
Quote: “Zumba was created so that anyone and everyone could participate, and all classes are notoriously welcoming to newcomers!”
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2. Rea Ann Silva
Rea Ann Silva is a professional makeup artist and single mother who invented a unique makeup product. The Original Beautyblender is a sponge unlike any other that received the best in beauty award from Allure.
Rea Ann now has endorsements with Sephora and some of the world’s biggest influencers. Her venture is now a renowned multi-million dollar business, and she continues to expand her product range.
Quote: “Being Latina gave me the vision and understanding about the nuances in skin tone, which directly correlated to my hands and my eyes mixing colors that made people feel comfortable in their own skin.”
See also: 10 Latin Fashion Bloggers Who’ve Reached Top Hispanic Influencer Status
3. Sofia Vergara
Sofía Vergara is a superstar who rose to success as a model and actress from Colombia. She immigrated to the United States, determined to make it in the land of opportunities. Not only did she succeed in show business, but Sofía is also an entrepreneur.
She is the co-founder of a talent agency called Latino World Entertainment. She also has advertising deals with companies such as Pepsi and a clothing line with Walmart. She started an underwear business, from which 10% of all the profits go toward empowering women entrepreneurs.
Quote: “I guess at the end of the day, all women like to be appreciated and treated with respect and kindness.”
4. Cesar Millan
Cesar Millan is best known as television’s “The Dog Whisperer.” His journey to success wasn’t easy, but that never stopped him from relentlessly going after his dreams. Cesar is a Mexican entrepreneur immigrant who shot to stardom after starring in a reality series about his amazing rehabilitation and dog training skills.
Cesar has become one of the most successful Hispanic entrepreneurs ever. He continues to make public appearances and his book, “Top Dogs and their Pets,” was a hit.
Quote: “We are all going to have obstacles along the way, but for me the ingredients were belief, passion, and clear intention of what I wanted to accomplish.”
5. Jorge Pérez
Jorge Pérez is an Argentinean entrepreneur who arrived in Miami in the 60s when he was fresh out of high school. He was determined to build affordable houses for everyone. He now has a housing empire as the co-founder of The Related Group with a New York developer.
The company focuses on high-end condos, and Perez reached billionaire status. He continues to build houses of all sizes so that many people can afford a home. He is known as the condo king of South Florida.
Quote: “You have to live life to the fullest. I don’t want to slow down. I want the giving to be stepped up. So the older I get, the less I will be involved in the business side, the more in the philanthropic side.”
6. Geisha Williams
Geisha Williams became one of the most successful entrepreneurs as CEO and president of PG&E, one of the biggest electric and natural gas companies in the United States. Geisha is part Cuban and was the first Latina to lead a Fortune 500 company.
WIlliams is in charge of bringing renewable resources to as many people as possible and she continues to be a leader in smart-grid technologies, renewable integration, and electric reliability. She works to advance policies that matter to American families.
Quote: “I’d like to see a world where there are so many Latina women leaders—and women of all different backgrounds—in the top jobs around the country. When that happens, we’ve succeeded.”
7. Carlos Castro
Carlos Castro’s Hispanic entrepreneurship wasn’t easy. The first time he moved to the United States, he did it illegally and was deported back to El Salvador. He tried again and could legally move again to the U.S., and that’s when his entrepreneurship took off.
He is the founder of Todos Supermarket, the first supermarket in the U.S. that catered to the Hispanic community in Washington D.C. His company currently has more than 30 supermarkets throughout the U.S., and Carlos’ success continues to grow.
Quote: “Work hard and stay positive.”
8. Ramona Ortega
Ramona Ortega—the “Dinero Diva”—created Mi Dinero Mi Futuro (My Money My Future). She created a digital platform that provides personalized financial advice for Hispanic millennials. Ramona is a third-generation Mexican American. Because of the poverty her family experienced, she set a goal to not only succeed but also close the racial wealth gap in the United States.
Quotes: “Innovation mode happens when you’re free to know what you want to do with your career.”
“Ever since I was 16…I was always thinking, how can I increase my skills? How can I increase my wealth?”
9. Adriana Cisneros
Adriana Cisneros is one of the most successful female entrepreneurs and is the CEO of Grupo Cisneros. Grupo Cisneros is a digital media, property investment, consumer product and property investment company that reaches more than 500 million Portuguese and Spanish speaking consumers in America and Europe.
She is also a board member of the International Academy of Television in Arts & Sciences and of MoMA’s Latin American acquisition. Cisneros presides over the educational nonprofit Fundación Cisneros and supports entrepreneurship through Endeavor Miami.
Quote: “We’re trying to tackle the future of work from many angles.”
10. Jordi Muñoz
Jordi Muñoz co-founded 3D Robotics in San Diego, California. Muñoz is an immigrant from Tijuana, Mexico who faces challenges with ingenuity and positivity.
Muñoz was 20 years old when he arrived in the U.S. in 2007. While he waited for his green card, he spent his time building a drone prototype in his garage. By manipulating the sensors on his gaming console’s remote control, he created one of the biggest Hispanic-owned drone manufacturers in the United States.
Quote: “There are a lot of good things in this country that allow you to innovate faster and be able to set up a company very fast and efficiently.”
Who Inspires You?
Hispanic entrepreneurs inspire us with their creativity and fearlessness. Seeing how they turned their vision into reality reminds us that we’re all capable of achieving. Learning Spanish is one of the best ways to expand your skills and reach your goals. It not only enhances your ability to communicate, but also empowers you to improve your travel experiences, meet new people, and find your purpose in the process.
Speaking Spanish can also help advance your career. According to a study conducted by The Economist, a person can earn anywhere from $50,000 to $125,000 extra just by knowing a foreign language alone. If you’re looking to impress a potential Hispanic employer with your amazing bilingual skills, sign up for a free trial class today at Homeschool Spanish Academy.
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