Net Worth
$22B
Global Rank
#54
Source
Grupo Mexico
Country
Mexico
$How German Larrea Built Their Fortune
German Larrea Mota Velasco is the chairman and CEO of Grupo Mexico, the largest mining company in Mexico and one of the top copper producers in the world. Born in 1953 in Mexico City, Larrea built upon his family's mining interests to create a diversified industrial conglomerate that spans mining, transportation, and infrastructure. Under his leadership, Grupo Mexico has become the world's third-largest copper producer, operating major mines across Mexico, Peru, and the United States.
Larrea's strategic brilliance has been in recognizing the long-term importance of copper to the global economy. As the world transitions to electric vehicles, renewable energy, and advanced electronics, copper demand has surged — and Grupo Mexico's massive reserves position the company to benefit enormously from this megatrend. His disciplined approach to capital allocation, cost management, and reserve development has made Grupo Mexico one of the most efficient mining operations on the planet.
Beyond mining, Larrea diversified Grupo Mexico into transportation through its subsidiary Grupo Mexico Transportes (GMXT), which operates the largest railroad network in Mexico. This vertical integration of mining and rail logistics has created significant competitive advantages and operational efficiencies. His quiet, methodical approach to business has made him one of the most successful industrialists in Latin American history.
vs$22B in Perspective
To put German Larrea's $22B fortune into context, here's what that wealth could buy:
Median U.S. household incomes
At $59,384/year
Median U.S. homes
At $420,000 each
Tesla Model 3s
At $38,990 each
Four-year college degrees
At $108,000 average
NFL franchises
At $4.7B average
Private islands
At $15,000,000 each
Key Wealth Milestones
1994
Led the acquisition of Mexicana de Cananea, one of Mexico's oldest and largest copper mines, significantly expanding Grupo Mexico's domestic production capacity.
1999
Acquired Asarco, the American Smelting and Refining Company, gaining major mining operations in the United States and establishing Grupo Mexico as a truly international mining company.
2004
Merged Southern Peru Copper with Minera Mexico, creating the world's largest publicly traded copper producer by reserves and establishing a dominant position in the Americas.
2011
Expanded into Mexico's railroad infrastructure by acquiring Ferromex and Ferrosur, building the country's largest rail transportation network to complement mining logistics.
Where German Larrea Ranks
Top 68% of the world's wealthiest · 167 tracked
Nearest by Rank
Richest People in Mexico
German Larrea on Wealth & Success
“Mining requires patience, discipline, and a very long-term view. The resources are there — you have to have the vision and the persistence to extract them responsibly.”
“Copper is the metal of the future. Every electric vehicle, every wind turbine, every solar panel needs copper, and the world will need much more of it.”
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AI-Generated Content — This profile was created using AI and publicly available sources. While we strive for accuracy, details may contain errors or be outdated. Quotes may be paraphrased or taken out of context. Achievements and figures are based on public reporting and may not be precise. This profile does not imply endorsement by the individual featured. Not financial advice.